Denis Naughten
Ceist:90 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans he has to reform the school transport service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6291/01]
Written Answers. - School Transport.
In January last, my colleague, Deputy O'Dea, the Minister of State with responsibility for school transport, announced a number of major improvements to the school transport scheme. These are the first major improvements to the scheme since its inception in 1967 and they include reducing the qualifying distance for pri mary school pupils aged ten or over from three miles to two miles, so that all primary pupils will be treated equally for eligibility purposes; the number of eligible primary pupils required to establish a new school bus service has been reduced from 10 to 7. There will be a reduction in the threshold for maintaining a service to four eligible pupils provided there is also a minimum of six fare paying pupils using the service. The combined maximum daily travelling and waiting times for post-primary pupils will be reduced from three hours to 2.5 hours. The distance requirement for primary pupils to qualify for remote area and scheme D grants will be reduced from three miles to two miles and the grants will be paid to each family. The qualifying distance for grant aid for post primary pupils residing remote from a school bus route will be reduced from three to two miles. The rate of grant payable is being increased and the question of two or more families sharing a grant will no longer arise. All school vehicles will have a communications system on board in place during the course of this school year. Arrangements will be made for all buses to have first-aid kits on board by the end of the year.
It has also been decided to make provision for parents to pay for extensions of bus services where feasible having regard to time schedules and avoidance of major disruption to other pupils using the service.