Vol. 530 No. 3
273 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department will now provide an extension of the school transport scheme to accommodate a number of families in Danesrath, Upper and Lower Ballinamona and Thomastown, County Kilkenny. [3595/01]
The children in question reside in a closed school area. Under the terms of the school transport scheme, children in a closed school area may be eligible for free transport to the school of amalgamation only. As these children are attending other schools the most that can be offered is concessionary fare-paying transport on an existing service.
Fare-paying tickets may only be issued where there is accommodation available after all eligible children have been catered for, and no additional State cost is involved by way of altering or extending the route of a service, or providing an additional or larger bus.
In the circumstances, it is not be open to my Department to provide a service as requested.
