Vol. 543 No. 1
227 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Science if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 1065 of 3 October 2001, regarding the extension of school transport for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny, he will outline the conclusion reached in the transport liaison officer's report that the bus is too large to travel the road to collect this child at his home when in fact it is a mini bus which serves this route. [25803/01]
In general, post-primary school transport routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than two miles to travel to a school bus pick-up point. Home pick- ups were never envisaged as being part of the school transport scheme as the cost involved on a countrywide level would be prohibitive.
My Department has recently received a report regarding a request for an extension of the school transport service for the pupil, referred to by the Deputy. The pupil resides 1.1 miles from the route of the existing bus service. As this is well within guidelines, it is not proposed to extend the existing service.
In the circumstances, the size of bus serving the route, does not affect the issue. However, the matter is being brought to the attention of the transport liaison officer.
