Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As outlined to the Deputy in my reply on 19 October, the day-to-day operation of bus routes, including the planning of drop-off and pick-up points, is a matter for Bus Éireann, which organises the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department. Bus routes are determined on the basis of numbers of eligible pupils in particular areas, road networks, distance guidelines and other operational factors.

As a rule primary school transport routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than 2.4 kilometres, 1.5 miles, to travel to a pick-up point. 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 has confirmed that two afternoon services operate from the school referred to in the details supplied by the Deputy, at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. The later service operates on a different route and entails different drop-off points.

The transport service concerned operates indiscriminately within guidelines under my Department's school transport scheme on a similar basis to other services throughout the country.