Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide free school bus transport for a family (details supplied) in County Cork. [5994/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport schemes on behalf of my Department, has advised that the family referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport to the school in question. The €50 charge, introduced by the previous Fianna Fáil/Green Party government in the 2011 Budget, will apply to all eligible primary pupils availing of school transport services for the 2011/12 school year. This charge is being introduced to ensure that school transport services provided are fully utilised in a cost efficient manner. The maximum family charge to be levied for eligible primary pupils will be €110 per annum; eligible pupils holding medical cards will be exempt from paying the charge.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that school transport is in place in a region (details supplied) in County Cork. [5996/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme, pupils are eligible for school transport if they reside 4.8 kilometres or more from and are attending a post primary school within their catchment area. The pupils referred to by the Deputy are not attending a post primary school within their catchment area and are therefore not eligible for school transport to their school of attendance. The service withdrawn was a Bus Éireann public passenger service which does not come under the remit of my Department.