John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a family (details supplied) in County Mayo have to pay €200 per child for school transport when children getting on at the same pickup point have to pay only €50 per child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19014/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The changes to school transport services relating to the Closed School Rule were announced in the 2011 Budget by the previous Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government and derive from recommendations in the Value for Money Review of the scheme.

One of the changes, which will be implemented from September 2011, involves the uniform application of the distance eligibility criterion to all pupils travelling under the Primary School Transport Scheme. This means that children residing less than 3.2 kilometres from their school of attendance will be deemed ineligible for school transport.

This change to school transport provision means that the distance eligibility criterion of 3.2 kilometres will be applied uniformly and equitably on a national basis.

Children who are not eligible, under the terms of the scheme, may apply for concessionary transport subject to a number of conditions including the payment of a charge which is currently set at €200 per annum. There is no exemption from this charge.