Tom Shehan (Fine Gael)
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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.

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for raising the matter.

At the outset I want to stress that school transport is a very significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on my Department's behalf and covering 82 million km. annually. In the region of 113,000 children, including more than 8,000 children with special educational needs, are transported in approximately 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

Under the general terms of the post-primary school transport scheme, from the commencement of the 2012-13 school year, children will be eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 km from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department or Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Under the terms of the scheme, children who are not eligible for school transport may apply to Bus Éireann for transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of conditions which include the payment of the €350 annual charge. The charge may be paid in two instalments in July and December. I can assure the Senator that while I sympathise with the situation he outlined, the school transport schemes must be administered equitably on a national scale. There is an exemption for eligible children who hold valid medical cards. Unfortunately, the exemption does not extend to children availing of school transport on a concessionary basis.

If the Senator wishes to engage further with my office and provide me with a greater level of detail of the exact situation I will engage with him further to see if we can come up with a satisfactory solution to the problem.

Tom Shehan (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply and I will engage with him on behalf of the young girl and her family. As I said, it is an exceptional circumstance and we must do everything that we can to help. I accept that the transport scheme must be administered equitably on a national scale. This is an exceptional case and I ask for the Government's sensitivity in dealing with the matter. Times are tough but the Government cannot lose its core and must try to help the people in most need. I hope that the Minister of State will see his way to do so when I furnish him with further details.