Vol. 495 No. 5
168 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason children attending a primary school (details supplied) in County Mayo must lose out on 25 minutes schooling each day due to the re-scheduling of their school transport following the retirement of one driver; and when this situation will be resolved. [20634/98]
In order to achieve an efficient and costeffective transport service, vehicles frequently operate a number of runs to both primary and post-primary schools.
The transport service to the school in question has been recently reorganised due to the retirement of a contractor. The school is now served by a bus which operates a feeder service to a postprimary centre and also caters for another national school.
It is possible to re-organise this service so that pupils would be in a position to fulfil their minimum school day of 5 hours and 40 minutes. This service could arrive at school at 8.45 a.m and depart at 2.30 p.m., or, alternatively, the pupils could be set down at school at 9.45 a.m. and depart at 3.45 p.m. However, the school has advised my Department that neither of these options is acceptable.
In the circumstances, I have asked officials of my Department to re-examine the situation, in consultation with Bus Éireann with a view to finding an early resolution.
