172 Mr. Reynolds asked the Minister for Education if she will approve a satisfactory pick-up service for the Church of Ireland children from a school (details supplied) in County Longford, where the board of management feels that the whole group of parishes should by considered a pick-up point, in view of the fact that the normal scheme D grant is of no assistance to one family in Ballymahon who have no car and that an appropriate rerouting of the bus service would meet the need. [12460/97]

A transport service to a national school under Church of Ireland management may only be established or retained where there is a minimum of five eligible children living in a distinct locality and offering for transport to their nearest such national school.

There are insufficient numbers of pupils in the case referred to by Deputy to warrant the establishment of a school transport service.

The rerouting of existing services in the area, as requested by the Deputy, to facilitate these Church of Ireland children could not be done without adversely affecting other eligible pupils on this route.

In the circumstances, the family can avail of the scheme D grant referred to by the Deputy, or, alternatively, transport on an incidental basis under the arrangements which have already been established for other schools.