Vol. 503 No. 3
519 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide school transport for a person (details supplied) in County Galway to Kilnadeema national school in September 1999 in view of the fact she lives four miles from school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9555/99]
520 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide school transport for persons (details supplied) in County Galway to Kilnadeema national school, Loughrea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9556/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 519 and 520 together.
I am pleased to confirm that my Department has sanctioned an extension in this case, which will significantly improve the level of service for all of the families concerned. Bus Éireann has been notified accordingly.
As a rule, primary school transport routes are planned so that no eligible child will have to travel more than 1.5 miles to the pick up point. Bus Eireann have confirmed that the four families in this instance reside distances ranging from 2.7 to 0.6 miles from the route of the existing service.
Under the revised arrangement, the family residing 2.7 miles from the pick up point will be 1.2 miles from the route of service. As a consequence of this revision, it is possible to provide the remaining families with a home pick up.
