Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the school transport scheme to ensure that those students who would ordinarily have attended a closed school (details supplied) in County Clare will continue to be exempt from charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19595/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Changes in the School Transport Scheme were announced by the previous Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government and derive from recommendations in the Value for Money Review of the scheme. The decisions announced included the uniform application of the distance requirement, cessation of the Closed/Central School Rule (CSR), the minimum number of eligible children required to establish and retain services and the introduction of charges for eligible primary pupils.

In the case of the cessation of the Closed/Central School Rule (CSR) there are broadly two aspects to this change. The first of these, which will be implemented from September 2011, involves the application of the distance eligibility criterion to all children travelling under the primary school transport scheme, including those travelling under the CSR. This change to school transport provision means that the distance eligibility criterion will be applied uniformly and equitably on a national basis.

The practical impact is that children categorised for transport under the CSR who reside less than 3.2 kilometres from their school of attendance and who are availing of free transport to that school will lose their transport eligibility. In such cases, these children may apply for concessionary transport at an annual charge, currently €200 per pupil, subject to a family maximum of €650 per annum. There is no exemption from this charge. An annual charge for eligible primary pupils will be introduced from the commencement of the 2011/12 school year. This charge is set at €50 per pupil with a maximum family charge of €110 for primary pupils. Eligible pupils who hold valid medical cards will be exempt from this charge. Eligible children with special educational needs will continue to travel free.