Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 January 2014
237. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the daily bus timetable for travel between Laytown and Julianstown; if he will consider providing additional school buses from Laytown to Julianstown between the hours of 3.30 p.m. and 6 p.m. in order to facilitate schoolchildren from Julianstown who wish to participate in after-school activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3767/14]
View answerThe specific information sought by the Deputy regarding the times of buses is not held by my Department. However, the Deputy will be aware that the purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. Children are eligible for school transport where they satisfy the distance criterion and are attending their nearest national school or post primary centre, having regard to ethos and language.School transport is a very significant national operation involving about 42 million journeys and over 82 million kilometres on 6,000 routes every school year. This service is delivered using a mix of Bus Éireann, both school transport and road passenger vehicles, private contractor vehicles including private operator scheduled services, and Dublin Bus, Irish Rail, DART and Luas where practical. In accordance with the terms of my Department's School Transport Schemes school transport services for eligible children operate during the 'Standard School Year' and facilitate a child's attendance during normal school opening and closing times.
