Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I again emphasise and underline that I appreciate the importance of the school transport scheme and the importance of young people having the opportunity to attend the school that meets their needs. It is important to again raise the point that, at post-primary level, students had to live within 4.8 km of and attend their nearest school, but we have extended provision to the next nearest school. If the next nearest school happens to be full, students will be accommodated to reach the next nearest school again. That is a point that is often lost. If your first nearest or second nearest school is full, that is, if you have applied to the school and there is no place available to you, you are eligible for transport to the third nearest or the fourth nearest school. That is an important consideration. We are showing as much flexibility as we possibly can. I will have to look at the specific case the Deputy raised with me earlier. Was it a national school?

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