Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 795: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway is not entitled to a school bus ticket; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are many other pupils from the same area being carried on the same buses to the college in question; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20750/07]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme, a pupil is eligible for transport if s/he resides 4.8 kilometres or more from her/his local post primary education centre.

The scheme is not designed to facilitate parents who choose to send their children to a post-primary centre outside of the catchment area in which they reside. However, children who are fully eligible for transport to the post-primary centre in the catchment area in which they reside, may apply for transport on a concessionary basis to a post-primary centre outside of their own catchment area — otherwise known as catchment boundary transport. These children can only be facilitated if spare seats are available on the bus after all other eligible children travelling to their local post-primary centre have been catered for. Such children have to make their own way to the nearest pick up point within that catchment area.

The Transport Liaison Officer for Co. Galway and Bus Éireann have advised that the transport service in question is operating to capacity. The family in question should continue to liaise with the local Bus Éireann office regarding the availability of catchment boundary seats.