Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 157: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3704/11]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of the Primary School Transport scheme pupils are eligible for free transport if they reside 3.2 kilometres or more from, and are attending, their nearest national school or school of amalgamation.

In the case of amalgamations, pupils residing in a closed school area may be deemed eligible for free school transport to the school of amalgamation only. This is known as the closed school rule (CSR). This rule has remained fundamentally unchanged since 1968.

The information note accompanying the press release on 7th December setting out the main features of the 2011 estimates included the following in relation to the closed school rule:

Changes in the 2011/2012 school year, arising from the value for money review, will mean that the distance criteria will be applied to all pupils attending primary schools and the exemption under the closed school rule will cease. This means that children categorised for transport under the CSR who reside less than 3.2 kilometres (2 miles) from the school of attendance and who are availing of free transport to that school under the CSR will lose transport eligibility.

From the 2012/2013 school year, eligibility based on the CSR and the central school rule will cease for all new children entering primary schools. Existing primary pupils availing of transport under the CSR will retain transport eligibility for the duration of their schooling, provided the requisite distance criteria are met.

The Department of Education and Skills assesses school accommodation needs in each area based on local demographic trends, current and projected enrolments, recent and planned housing developments and the capacity of existing schools to meet demand for places.

This change to the CSR means that not only will the distance criteria be applied equitably nationally, but that from the 2012/2013 school year eligibility for all new children entering primary schools nationally will be determined by reference to the nearest national school and that consistency will be introduced in relation to planning for school places.

In the case of any future primary school amalgamations, eligibility for school transport will be based on distance from and attendance at the nearest school, as determined by my Department