Vol. 531 No. 4
209 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the circumstances regarding availability of school transport for a person (details supplied); and if he will immediately improve the service. [6102/01]
For the purposes of the post-primary education scheme, the country is divided into catchment areas, each of which has its own post-primary centre. Recognised post-primary pupils who live at least three miles from the post-primary centre of the catchment area in which they reside are eligible for transport to that centre under the terms of the school transport scheme.
Eligible pupils who wish to attend a post-primary centre other than their appropriate one may be allowed transport from the nearest pick-up point within the catchment area of the centre being attended. This is subject to there being spare accommodation available on the service and provided that no additional State cost is incurred.
The position in this case is that the pupil in question is attending school outside of his appropriate catchment area. Accordingly, he is entitled to transport from the nearest pick-up point in that catchment area only.
This arrangement is the most that can be offered as it is not open to my Department to extend the service in question or offer grant-aid as the pupil concerned is not eligible for transport to the school he is attending.
