Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 410: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position on providing school transport for two children (details supplied) in County Mayo; if the school transport will be reviewed in this area; her views on whether schools would be accommodated if spaces were available, which is the case here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37563/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of the primary school transport scheme, a pupil is eligible for transport if he or she resides at least 3.2 km or two miles from the nearest primary school. Pupils residing less than 3.2 km from their nearest school may be offered transport on a concessionary fare-paying basis subject to spare seats being available and provided that no additional cost is involved. Catchment areas do not apply at primary level.

Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, has confirmed that applications for concessionary fare-paying transport were received in respect of the pupils referred in the documentation supplied by the Deputy. However, it was not possible to accommodate these pupils as there are not enough spare seats available on the bus which is operating to full capacity at present.