Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The family referred to in the details supplied by the Deputy are eligible for transport to the school referred to in the details supplied by the Deputy. A school bus service may be established where there are a sufficient number of eligible pupils offering for transport from a distinct area and subject to the terms of the scheme. The family in question have been offered a Remote Area Grant towards the cost of arranging private transport which can be claimed at the end of each school year.

Gerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1418: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, in relation to route 776 and 779 to a school (details supplied) in County Cork, her Department will pay the present transport provider to carry the pupils to the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43733/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, 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 at least 3.2 kilometres from, and be attending, their nearest national school. Bus Eireann have advised that the service currently in operation is catering for all eligible pupils that have applied for transport. However, children who do not qualify for free transport on distance grounds may be allowed to travel as concessionary fare-payers. This may be allowed subject to the condition that there are spare seats available after all fully eligible children have been catered for, and provided there is no extra State cost involved by way of altering or extending the route of the service or by providing an additional or larger bus.

Where fare-paying transport is sought to a school other than the nearest, the written agreement of the Board of Management of the nearest school is required. The parents in question should contact their local Bus Éireann office regarding the availability of spare seats.