Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 112: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding school transport in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2118/11]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme, pupils who reside 3.2 kilometres or more from, and are attending their nearest suitable national school, as determined by my Department, are eligible for free school transport. The pupil referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, is not attending his nearest national school and is therefore not eligible for school transport. However, Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport schemes on behalf of my Department, has advised that this pupil was incorrectly categorised as eligible for the 2009/2010 school year and availed of a free school transport service. Under the circumstances, my Department, as an exceptional measure, has sanctioned the continuation of free transport for this pupil for the 2010/2011 school year.

It is open to pupils who are not attending their nearest school to apply for concessionary transport to the school which they are attending. Concessionary transport is offered subject to a number of terms and conditions, including the availability of spare seating on an existing service. In this regard, the parents of the pupil in question should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office.