Vol. 526 No. 3
401 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science if, further to parliamentary Question No. 1119 of 3 October 2000, he will outline the progress being made on the application for school transport for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo in view of the family circumstances; when a decision will be made in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26323/00]
The necessary inquiries have now been completed regarding the request for an extension of the school transport service for the pupil referred to by the Deputy. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department, as an exceptional matter due to the circumstances and the hardship factors involved, is prepared to agree to an extension of the service as requested.
Bus Éireann, who operate the transport scheme on behalf of my Department, have been asked to make the necessary arrangements.
402 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science if, further to parliamentary Question No. 1115 of 3 October 2000, he will outline the progress being made on the report from Bus Éireann in relation to the school transport; when a decision will be made in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26324/00]
My Department recently received a report regarding the provision of a school transport service to the national school in question.
The position generally is that a school transport service may be established or retained where there is a sufficient number of eligible children, living in a distinct locality, offering transport to their nearest national school. A minimum of ten pupils is required to establish a service. In order to be eligible for free transport, children between the ages of four and ten must live at least two miles from their nearest school, while older children must live at least three miles away.
In this case, the number of eligible children offering for transport from this locality is only two. The remaining 15 pupils are either ineligible due to their proximity to other nearer schools or because they do not meet the distance requirement.
As the minimum number of eligible children required has not been met, it is not open to my Department to establish a service as requested.
403 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science if, further to parliamentary Question No. 268 of 10 October 2000, he will outline the progress being made on the application of school transport for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; when a decision will be made in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26325/00]
My Department recently received a report regarding an extension of the school transport service for the pupil referred to by the Deputy.
The position generally is that primary school transport routes are planned so that no eligible child will have more than 1.5 miles 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 to be brought to convenient pick-up points along the main route. Home pick-ups were never envisaged as being part of the school transport scheme as the cost involved on a countrywide level would be prohibitive.
My Department may, however, consider special transport arrangements on medical grounds where it is shown that a child is severely medically handicapped and the condition is such that the child could not make his-her own way to the pick-up point.
The medical evidence submitted on behalf of the pupil in question was forwarded to the medical advisor for attention. The medical advisor, however, has determined that the medical grounds submitted do not warrant an extension of the service.
Transport from the existing pick-up point, which is 0.8 miles from the family residence, continues to be available to the pupil in question.
