Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport is determined by the nearest school, having regard to ethos, language and special needs. From the outset of the scheme, the measurement of the shortest traversable route from a child's home to the relevant education centre has been used to determine whether a child qualifies for school transport based on the distance criteria. This approach is applied equitably and impartially throughout the country, including in the specific case referred to by the Deputy. The school transport appeals board, which is independent of my Department, determines appeals against decisions made by or on behalf of the Department regarding the provision of school transport services and grant aid under the terms of the scheme. The appeals form is available on my Department's website.

Deputy McConalogue has claimed that the scheme is inefficient and unfair. The rules of the scheme were changed in budget 2011 but the changes were not implemented until the 2012-13 school year to give parents advance warning. The scheme was introduced with the aim of achieving cost savings and to better manage the system. Many parents might regard the changes to the criteria as unfair if their children are already attending a certain school. Eligibility is now based on the closest school, which is the most efficient way to fund transport on behalf the taxpayer. It is a parent's prerogative to chose a different school but the scheme cannot continue to fund transport to any school they might chose.

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