Vol. 572 No. 6
202 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science if a school bus can be re-routed to accommodate a home pick up for a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23901/03]
My Department is not aware of the case referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied. However, a report has now been requested from Bus Éireann and as soon as the details of the case are received the matter will be given consideration.
203 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Education and Science if a school bus service can be re-routed for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23918/03]
Under the terms of the primary school transport scheme children are eligible, subject to conditions, for free transport to their nearest national school or school of amalgamation. Pupils not attending their nearest national school may, subject to conditions, avail of concessionary fare paying transport to another school, subject to spare accommodation being available on the bus and provided that no extra State cost is incurred by extending or re-routing the service.
The position in this case is that the child referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied is not attending his nearest national school and is availing of concessionary fare paying transport. The current service is the most that can be offered as additional costs would be incurred by extending the service.
204 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department is carrying out a review of bus routes and changing school catchment areas for secondary schools in the County Clare area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23920/03]
For the purposes of post-primary education provision, the country is divided into catchment areas, each of which has its own post-primary education centre. These areas were drawn up in the late 1960s in the context of the free education scheme. The catchment boundaries were determined following consultation with local educational interests and the intention was that certain primary schools would feed exclusively into each centre. A relatively small number of primary schools are shared between two or more centres.
The revision of catchment areas is addressed by my Department as the need arises. It is the practice in my Department to consult with local educational interests, where any such adjustments are being contemplated. My Department is not carrying out a review of the catchment areas referred to by the Deputy.
Under the rules for the post-primary school transport scheme, pupils eligible for transport may be transported to the post-primary centre which caters for the catchment area in which they live. Where eligible pupils attend school at a centre other than the post-primary centre which caters for the catchment area in which they live, they may be allowed the concession of transport from the catchment boundary of the centre attended, provided there is room for them on a bus serving that centre.
