P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the transport measures that will be implemented for a special needs pupil (detail supplied) who needs to transfer school due to bullying and harassment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34208/10]

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 children who attend 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 pupil referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, is not attending a post primary centre within his catchment area and should contact his local Bus Éireann office regarding the availability of catchment boundary transport.