Vol. 568 No. 1
140 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans to implement the recommendations of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Service Report on school transport; the reason for the delay in considering these recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15514/03]
In 2001, following a review of the school transport scheme and taking account of the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee report on school transport, a number of improvements were put in place.
These included reducing the qualifying distance for eligibility for school transport for primary school pupils aged 10 and over from three to two miles, so that all primary pupils are treated equally for eligibility purposes. The number of eligible primary pupils required to establish a new school bus service was reduced from ten to seven. All school transport vehicles were provided with a communication system to enable the driver to have ready access to the depot.
The scope of the remote area grants, payable to pupils in certain circumstances, was extended and the rate of grant payable increased.
The travelling and waiting time for post-primary pupils was reduced from three to 2.5 hours. Where feasible students who are on the early pick-up from their homes are the first to be dropped home in the evening and vice versa. Bus Éireann have replaced over 120 older school buses in the last year, thereby improving the quality of bus in service.
