Ms Sarah Heneghan:

The ethos and language criteria would automatically kick in. However, if for any reason a family feels they have been deemed ineligible in error, they can contact us and we will look into the matter. Generally, applications come in and Bus Éireann will assess them. If people are eligible and there is no service, I think they can see on the system that they are eligible and there is no service. They will automatically get a letter stating this and that they will now be deemed eligible for the remote area grant. If they are concessionary, that is, if they are not eligible for transport because they are either below the distance criteria or they are not attending their closest schools, they will get a letter to say that they are not eligible for transport. If they feel that they are and that an error has been made, they can contact us or Bus Éireann and we can look into the matter.