Vol. 512 No. 3
318 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will make arrangements for post-primary school children attending Coláiste Eoghan and CBS secondary schools in Youghal, County Cork, to be deposited and collected at the school gates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26074/99]
The central point is a feature of the post-primary school transport scheme, and is in operation in several towns where there is more than one post-primary school. In towns where the central point feature is operated, post-primary pupils are dropped and collected at the central point and are expected to make their way to their respective schools.
Prior to 1995, pupils attending the schools in question were dropped outside the Loreto Convent each morning and afternoon. In 1995, it was decided to extend the services in the morning to the schools, as the pupils had to make their way up a very steep hill to get to the schools. Buses continue to collect pupils at the central point in the afternoons. This is a distance of 0.7 miles and 0.8 miles from the schools concerned taking the shortest traversable route.
To apply the terms of the school transport scheme in a fair and consistent manner, it is not open to my Department to extend school services to the schools concerned in the afternoon. To extend services in such circumstances, where extra cost is involved, would set a precedent, which would be unsustainable by my Department in its operation of a national scheme.
