Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 February 2013
144. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action he will take to ensure that Bus Éireann provides an adequate school bus service from Knocksedan to Swords Manor taking into account that there are 27 children within the estate who require this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10675/13]
View answerUnder the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Bus Éireann, which operates the scheme on behalf of my Department, is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.
Where practicable, and subject to considerations of cost and logistics, routes are planned to avoid an eligible child having to travel more than 2.4 kms to or from a pick up/set down point.
In this regard Bus Éireann has advised that the transport service in question is operating within the above guidelines and no eligible child has to travel more than 2.3kms to the pick up point.
Parents are responsible for ensuring that children are brought safely to and collected safely from Bus Éireann designated pick up and set down points.
