Tom Shehan (Fine Gael)

This is a sensitive case and I have called on the Minister to cover the costs of the €350 bill for school transport in this extreme circumstance. It concerns a 12-year old girl in my constituency who is about to start secondary school. Over a number of years she was sexually abused and a court case is ongoing. As a result of the case the girl's mother decided to change her school to prevent her from coming into contact with any of the people involved in the case, such as witnesses, for example. It was decided it was in her best interest to attend a secondary school in the nearest town. Unfortunately, this is not the nearest secondary school to her home and, therefore, she has been asked to pay €350 to Bus Éireann to cover the cost of her school transport even though her mother has a medical card. If this child were to go to the nearest secondary school, she would qualify for free school transport but due to the extreme circumstance, I ask the Minister to intervene in this case due to the sensitivities surrounding it. This change of school is deemed appropriate by her mother and the support services. I ask the Minister of State to waive the school transport fee in this extreme circumstance. The bus passes close to her house and goes to the town anyway but her family does not have the money to pay the fee. I have tried reasoning with the Department of Education and Skills but have hit a brick wall. I urge the Minister to State to examine this extreme and unique case and to do everything in his power to help the 12 year old girl to get on with her life. I ask that the fee be waived in these exceptional circumstances.