Vol. 577 No. 4
182 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the recommendations which have to date been implemented on the joint Oireachtas committee report on school transport; the plans he has to implement further recommendations in the coming 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31488/03]
In 2001, following a review of the school transport scheme and taking into consideration the recommendations of the joint Oireachtas committee report on school transport, a number of improvements were put in place.
These included: the reduction of the qualifying distace for eligibility purposes; reduction in the number of pupils required for the establishment of a service; the scope of the remote area grants was extended and the rates increased; travelling and waiting time for post primary pupils was reduced and where feasible pupils on the early pick up would be first home in the evening and vice versa; and over 120 older buses were replaced and all vehicles were provided with a communication system.
Due to the rapidly escalating cost of providing the school transport service, my Department is undertaking a review designed to identify savings and efficiencies which can contribute to a containment of the cost of the service.
