Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1598: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the additional information mentioned in Parliamentary Question No. 336 of 14 December 2006, has been received; if so, the position regarding same; and when will the family hear from her. [1798/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme, only eligible children qualify for free transport. In order to be eligible, children must live at least 3.2 kilometres from, and be attending, their nearest national school.

Bus Éireann have advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy resides 2.08 km from the school he is attending and therefore does not meet the eligibility criteria. However, children who do not qualify for free transport on distance grounds may be allowed to travel as concessionary fare-payers. This may be allowed where there are spare seats available after all fully eligible children have been catered for, and provided there is no extra cost involved to the State by way of altering or extending the route of the service or by providing an additional or larger bus. The parents should contact their local Bus Éireann office on a term-by-term basis regarding the availability of spare seats.