Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 266: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a pick up point for school transport for persons (details supplied) in County Mayo will be sanctioned. [8971/07]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To qualify for free school transport under the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme, children must live at least 3.2 kilometres from, and be attending, their nearest school or school of amalgamation. The pupils referred to by the Deputy are not attending the school of amalgamation and are not eligible, therefore, for free school transport.

With regard to concessionary transport, Bus Éireann, which is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the school transport scheme, has advised that there is no primary school transport service available on which the pupils could be accommodated. However, a service to cater for post primary school opening and closing times operates in the area. My Department has no objection to the family availing of this service, as concessionary fare-paying passengers, on an incidental basis. Such an arrangement would be subject to spare seats being available on the service, the agreement of the school amalgamation being obtained and no additional State costs being incurred by way of re-routing the service.

If the family wish to enquire as to the possibility of a concessionary fare-paying service, they should contact their local Bus Éireann office in Ballina.