Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 157: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the reason school transport has been reduced in an area in County Kildare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37539/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme, pupils who reside 3.2 kilometres or more from, and are attending their nearest suitable national school as determined by my Department are eligible for free school transport.

Bus Éireann is responsible for the operation of the school transport service on behalf of my Department.

Routes are planned in such a way 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 and cost effective manner. My Department has been advised by Bus Éireann that with the reorganisation of services during the summer, as there was a reduction in the number of pupils in the area in question offering for transport for the 2010/2011 school year, it was possible to amalgamate the two services referred to in the details supplied, into one.

The current service for the pupils referred to by the Deputy remains within the general guidelines of the School Transport Scheme.