Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme, on behalf of my Department, has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, resides 25.2 kilometres from the school in question. Bus Éireann further advise that the pupil can avail of a service which has a pick up point 5.1 kilometres from home. Under the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme, my Department is prepared to offer the family a Remote Area Grant towards the cost of arranging transport to the pick up point.
The planning and organising of school bus routes is an operational matter for Bus Éireann. Bus routes are planned in such a way as to ensure that, as far as possible, eligible pupils have a reasonable standard of service while at the same time ensuring that school transport vehicles are fully utilised in the most efficient manner. In order to achieve this, individual vehicles are generally required to operate a number of services to both primary and post-primary schools. The service in question cannot be extended to provide a more convenient pick up point due to time constraints as the vehicle also operates a service to other schools in the area.