Vol. 554 No. 5
572 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 354 of 18 June 2002, the progress made on the re-routing of the school bus to accommodate a person (details supplied) in County Sligo, plus three other pupils who commenced school in September 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16048/02]
The position is that the pupil referred to by the Deputy resides 0.8 miles from the route of service operating to his primary school. Under existing guidelines, pupils residing less than 1.5 miles from the route of service to a primary school are considered to have a reasonable service.
The pupil in question resides well within guidelines and has a level of service that compares favourably with the standard in operation throughout the country as a whole. In any event, Bus Éireann, who operate the service on behalf of my Department, have advised that the road past the home of this pupil is unsuitable for a large bus to operate safely.
573 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science if school transport will be provided for the children of persons (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16049/02]
In order to be eligible for school transport, primary school children must live at least two miles from and be attending, their nearest national school.
The position is that the pupils referred to by the Deputy reside 0.3 miles from the route of service and 1.7 miles from their nearest national school and do not qualify for free transport.
Children who do not qualify for free transport on normal distance grounds may be allowed avail of concessionary fare-paying transport subject to spare places being available on the bus and no extra State cost being incurred by way of extending or altering the route of the service. As the family are availing of fare-paying transport, the present service is the most that can be offered.
