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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Oct 2001

Vol. 543 No. 1

Written Answers. - School Transport.

Sean Fleming

Ceist:

224 Mr. Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Science the procedures involved in making changes to the terms of the school transport scheme whereby a school bus for operational and road network reasons has to drive through the catchment area of another school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25731/01]

For educational purposes at post-primary level, the country, with the exception of the major cities, is divided into catchment areas, each with a post-primary centre. In order to be eligible for transport under the school transport scheme, pupils must reside at least three miles from and be attending their nearest appropriate post-primary centre. Pupils residing less than three miles from their nearest centre are ineligible but may be allowed transport, subject to there being accommodation on the bus after all fully eligible pupils and catchment boundary pupils have been accommodated.

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 boundary of the centre being attended, subject to there being spare accommodation available on the service and provided no extra State cost is incurred. These pupils are responsible for making their own way to the catchment boundary pick up point. In circumstances where a school bus has to cross into an adjacent catchment area, because of the local road network or for operational reasons, the bus is not permitted to pick up pupils in that catchment area.

In order for pupils to be permitted to board the bus, in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy, it would be necessary for the catchment boundary between the two centres to be redrawn. This would require the agreement of the schools in the centres involved.

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