Cecilia Keaveney
Question:268 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a school transport matter (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22634/02]
Written Answers. - School Transport.
A report has been requested from Bus Éireann regarding transport arrangements for the pupils referred to by the Deputy. The Deputy will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible.
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:269 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a school transport matter (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22635/02]
One of the main objects of the school transport scheme is to provide a basic level of service for children who live long distances from school and who might otherwise experience difficulty in attending regularly. Primary school transport routes are planned so that no eligible child will have more than 1.5 miles to travel to a pick-up point. Pupils living off the main route of service are generally expected to make their own way or be brought to convenient pick-up points along the main route. Home pick-ups were never envisaged as part of the scheme, as the cost of providing such a service on a countrywide level would be prohibitive.
The families in question reside 0.4 miles and 0.1 miles form the route of service to the school attended. As the service is within guidelines, it is not open to the Department to extend the service as requested. Provision has been made for parents to pay for extensions of bus services, where feasible, having regard to time schedules and avoidance of major disruption to other pupils using the service. Should the families wish to avail of this provision, they should notify school transport section of my Department.
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:270 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a school transport grant for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22636/02]
The family in question resides 2.5 miles from the school attended, however, there is no service to that school on which the pupil can be accommodated. In the circumstances, the family was informed that my Department is prepared to sanction a remote area grant, towards the cost of private transport arrangements to the school. The grant is normally claimed at the end of the school year. When claiming, a statement from the school authorities setting out the number of days attended in the school year and the number of days the school was open during that period, should be forwarded to the school transport section of my Department.
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:271 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science if a new bus service will be provided at 3 p.m. each day to replace or complement a bus which has been acknowledged to being overcrowded on a route (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22637/02]
A report has been requested from Bus Éireann regarding alleged overcrowding on the school bus in question. I have asked that the matter be treated as a matter of urgency and the Deputy informed of the outcome as soon as possible.