John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 344: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the school bus route from south Thomastown, County Kilkenny to the Kilkenny school project, Kilkenny city will be changed to ensure that the pick up point is no more than one mile from the homes of those requiring the service; if he will respond to a submission by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny regarding this matter; if he will expedite a review of the route to accommodate parents and students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5974/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme, on behalf of my Department, has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, resides 25.2 kilometres from the school in question. Bus Éireann further advise that the pupil can avail of a service which has a pick up point 5.1 kilometres from home. Under the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme, my Department is prepared to offer the family a Remote Area Grant towards the cost of arranging transport to the pick up point.

The planning and organising of school bus routes is an operational matter for Bus Éireann. Bus routes are planned in such a way as to ensure that, as far as possible, eligible pupils have a reasonable standard of service while at the same time ensuring that school transport vehicles are fully utilised in the most efficient manner. In order to achieve this, individual vehicles are generally required to operate a number of services to both primary and post-primary schools. The service in question cannot be extended to provide a more convenient pick up point due to time constraints as the vehicle also operates a service to other schools in the area.