School Transport Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 December 2014

Tuesday, 9 December 2014

Questions (390)

Michael Lowry

Question:

390. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will intervene in a school transport issue affecting a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if she will review, and alter, the current bus route in place, in view of the danger being posed to this person as a result of the current pick up point; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this minor alteration will not make the route longer and in fact would return to a route that was used previously; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46961/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The purpose of my Department's Post Primary 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 education centre. Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Bus Éireann endeavours to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally. Routes are planned to avoid an eligible child having to travel more than 3.2 kilometres to or from a pick up/set down 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. Home pick-ups were never envisaged as being part of the School Transport Scheme. In this regard, Bus Éireann has advised that the child in question avails of a service within the above guidelines and the alteration suggested by the Deputy would incur additional mileage. The terms of the School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.