Vol. 540 No. 2
246 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will review the school transport arrangements for children attending a national school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny and approve an extension to this service to facilitate the children in the new school year. [20254/01]
The children concerned reside between 0.1 miles and 0.2 miles from the route of service to the school. As a rule, primary school transport routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than 1.5 miles to travel to a pick-up point. Children 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. 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. The children concerned are considered to have an excellent level of service.
