Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 3

Written Answers. - School Transport.

John McGuinness

Question:

378 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science if the bus route and pick up point to Benekerry national school, County Carlow, will be changed due to the safety aspects of the present bus stop which is located on the main Carlow to Dublin road; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a new route from Braun Road to Oak Park is safer and would facilitate 13 more children; if he will reconsider the case made by parents in correspondence with his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6185/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

As a rule, primary school transport routes are planned so that no eligible child will have to travel more than 1.5 miles to a pick-up point. The families to whom the Deputy refers reside 0.1, 0.3 and 0.4 miles respectively from the existing pick-up point.

Pick-up, set-down and turning points are carefully selected, always with safety in mind. I am advised by Bus Éireann that the current pick-up point is considered suitable and compares favourably with pick-up points in operation throughout the country where school transport services operate.

As the existing level of service is satisfactory, I regret that it is not open to my Department to re-route the service as requested.