Vol. 557 No. 6
112 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if the school transport service to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo could be restored in order that this person is collected from home; and the outcome of the report by Bus Éireann. [23060/02]
Primary school transport routes are planned so that as far as possible no eligible child will have more than 1.5 miles to travel to a pick-up point. Pupils living off the main route of a service are generally expected to make their own way to a pick-up point or school. 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. The pupil to whom the Deputy refers resides within half a mile of the bus route to school. This is considered to be a reasonable level of service in the context of the general operation of the scheme. My Department has been advised by Bus Éireann that this pupil was fortuitously provided with a home pick-up at the start of the current school year, as an old bus route was used in error. The correct bus route was restored as soon as this error was detected.
