199 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education whether school transport from Shrataggle can be provided for a family (details supplied) in County Mayo, commencing at the new school term, in view of the fact that the stretch of road they currently walk is extremely dangerous. [12596/97]

The family concerned lives 0.6 miles from the existing pick-up point and the current level of service is well within my Department's guidelines. In general, school transport routes are planned so that no eligible post-primary child will have more than three miles to travel to a pick-up point. Pupils living off the main route of a service are expected to make their own way to convenient pick-up points along the main route.

Accordingly, the present arrangement is the most that can be offered.