Michael Ring
Ceist:85 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the cost for an extension of the school transport scheme for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [17281/03]
Written Answers. - School Transport.
The pupil to whom the Deputy refers is fully eligible for transport to the school concerned, and resides 1.6 miles from the route of service to the school. Pupils living off the main route of a service are generally expected to make their own way or to 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.
Bus Éireann, which is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the school transport scheme has advised that an extension of service for the pupil would cost approximately €8.22 per day. In the circumstances, it is not open to my Department to sanction an extension of service as the cost involved is considered prohibitive.