Vol. 562 No. 4
270 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will review the inadequate school bus service with a view to accommodating children attending national schools (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as detailed to his Department by the joint parents association of both schools. [6474/03]
The main objective of the school transport scheme is to provide a basic level of service for children who live long distances from school, and who might otherwise have difficulty in making a regular attendance. My Department strives to achieve this in the most efficient and cost effective manner. As a result buses are normally required to operate a number of runs at both primary and post-primary level. This is to provide a basic level of service while achieving optimum value from scarce resources.
The travelling and waiting time for pupils on the services to the schools in question is within my Department's guidelines of a maximum of one and a half hours travelling and waiting time daily. I have asked, however, that the matter be reviewed and the Deputy informed of the outcome as soon as possible.
