Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - School Transport.

Liam Aylward

Ceist:

918 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will amend the regulations to extend the school transport service to children's homes in view of the disturbing reports towards the end of the last school year of attempted child abduction, particularly in rural areas, and the concerns of parents whose children must walk to a pick-up point to avail of the scheme. [18130/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin):

The school transport scheme was designed to provide a basic level of service for children in rural areas who, if living a long distance from their nearest school, might have difficulty in attending regularly.

Safety is of paramount importance to my Department and to Bus Éireann, who operate the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department. In the planning of routes, road conditions, traffic hazards and all other aspects of safety are considered.

As a guideline, primary and post-primary school transport routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than 1.5 and 3.0 miles respectively to travel to a pick-up point. Pupils living off the main route of a service are generally expected to make their own way, or be brought to convenient pick-up points along the main route.

A door to door service was never envisaged as part of the scheme. The cost of providing this kind of facility on a nationwide basis would be prohibitive. In the circumstances my Department has no plans to provide such a service.