Written answers

Tuesday, 28 January 2014

Department of Education and Skills

School Transport Provision

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

237. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the times of the buses available from Laytown to Julianstown on a daily basis; if he will consider providing additional school buses from Laytown to Julianstown between the hours of 3.30 p.m. and 6 p.m. in order to facilitate those schoolchildren from Julianstown who wish to participate in after-school activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3767/14]

Photo of Ciarán CannonCiarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The specific information sought by the Deputy regarding the times of buses is not held by my Department.

However, the Deputy will be aware that the purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.

Children are eligible for school transport where they satisfy the distance criterion and are attending their nearest national school or post primary centre, having regard to ethos and language.

School transport is a very significant national operation involving about 42 million journeys and over 82 million kilometres on 6,000 routes every school year. This service is delivered using a mix of Bus Éireann, both school transport and road passenger vehicles, private contractor vehicles including private operator scheduled services, and Dublin Bus, Irish Rail, DART and Luas where practical.

In accordance with the terms of my Department's School Transport Schemes school transport services for eligible children operate during the 'Standard School Year' and facilitate a child's attendance during normal school opening and closing times.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.