Michael Ring
Ceist:599 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if school transport could be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo, on compassionate grounds, in view of their situation. [16240/02]
Written Answers. - School Transport.
For the purposes of the post-primary education scheme, the country has been divided into catchment areas, each of which has its own post-primary centre. Recognised pupils who reside over three miles from the post-primary centre of the catchment area in which they live, are eligible for transport under the scheme to that centre.
Alternatively, eligible pupils who wish to attend a post-primary centre other than their appropriate one may be allowed transport from within the catchment boundary of the centre being attended, 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 family concerned reside in the Crossmolina catchment area, and are eligible for catchment boundary transport only to Belmullet. It is not open to my Department to allow a service encroach into another catchment area as this would be contrary to the terms of the scheme.