Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 February 2009
444 Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on re-routing a school bus at Ballymoe, County Galway which would take in the villages of Cloonruff, Cornamuckla, Treanboy, Turla and Knockagonnell which brings 15 fare paying children to a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3439/09]
View answerUnder the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme, pupils who reside 3.2 kilometres or more from, and are attending, their nearest suitable national school as determined by my Department, are eligible for free school transport.
Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport schemes on behalf of my Department, has advised that the specific school transport service referred to by the Deputy is operating to capacity catering for 33 eligible pupils and 12 concessionary fare paying pupils.
The Deputy will be aware that pupils in the concessionary fare paying category may only avail of transport if spare capacity exists on the service in question. In general, school transport routes are not extended or altered to cater for such pupils. As all eligible pupils are availing of a service within the guidelines of the primary school transport scheme I do not propose to change the existing arrangements.
