Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 470: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason school children have been omitted from the school bus service in County Westmeath (details supplied) in view of the fact that these pupils have paid their fees to date. [37508/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme, only eligible children qualify for free transport. In order to be eligible, children must live 3.2 kilometres or more from, and be attending, their nearest national school.

Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport service on behalf of my Department, has advised that the pupils referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied are not eligible for free transport but may apply for transport on a concessionary fare paying basis.

I should point out that concessionary transport is not guaranteed and depends on the number of spare seats available on a term to term basis after all fully eligible children have been accommodated.

Bus Éireann has advised my Department that the children concerned could not be accommodated on a concessionary basis in the first school term and were refunded their payments in October 2006.