Michael Ring
Question:495 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if an extension can be provided to a school transport service (details supplied) in County Mayo. [20063/03]
Written Answers. - School Transport.
The pupils to whom the Deputy refers reside under two miles from the route of service to the school. As a rule post-primary school transport routes are planned so that as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than two 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, or to be brought to convenient pick-up points along the main route. 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.
As the pupils concerned are considered to have a reasonable level of service in the context of the general operation of the school transport scheme, and as extra cost would be involved in rerouting the service, I regret it is not open to my Department to alter the route as requested. However, there is a facility under the scheme whereby parents may pay for a rerouting of service subject to certain conditions. The families may contact their local Bus Éireann office for details.