Vol. 553 No. 2
322 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will review his Department's decision not to accede to the request of persons (details supplied) in County Waterford for an alteration to the present school transport arrangements to the Kilmacthomas post-primary centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13166/02]
For the purposes of the post-primary transport scheme, the country is divided into catchment areas – each of which has its own post-primary centre. Eligible pupils who wish to attend a post-primary centre other than their appropriate one may be allowed transport from within the catchment boundary of the centre attended. This is subject to there being spare accommodation available on the service and provided no additional State cost is incurred.
The pupils in question are attending school outside of their appropriate catchment area, accordingly, they are entitled to school transport from the nearest pick-up point in that catchment area only. My Department could not sanction an extension of any service into an adjoining catchment area as such an encroachment would constitute an infringement of the terms of the post-primary transport scheme.
