1112. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education and Youth if accommodation can be made for a new pick up point in Tinure, County Louth, on a school bus route (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54806/26]

The purpose of the 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.

Eligibility is determined by measuring the shortest traversable route from the pupils’ home to the relevant primary school/post primary centre.

Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes on behalf of my Department. Routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than 3.2 kilometres to travel to a pick-up point. Routes are planned around the locations of eligible children only.

Where practicable, and subject to considerations of cost and logistics, routes are planned to avoid an eligible Post Primary child having to travel more than 3.2 kms to or from a pickup/set down point or to have travel and waiting times in excess of 2.5 hours per day. For an eligible Primary child routes are planned to avoid a child having to travel more than 2.4 kms to or from a pickup/set down point or to have travel and waiting times in excess of 1.5 hours per day. Routes are planned based on the locations of children who are eligible for school transport only.

Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring that children are brought safely to and collected safely from Bus Éireann designated pickup and set down points.

Currently routes will not be extended or altered in accordance with the terms of the Scheme.