Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will honour a commitment in relation to the provision of school transport given to the parents of children from a school (details supplied) in County Mayo that has closed and the children been transferred to another school in the locality. [34910/11]

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.

One of the changes announced was the uniform application of the distance criterion of 3.2 kilometres to all pupils travelling under the primary school transport scheme. This change, which came into effect this school year, means that the distance eligibility criterion of 3.2 kilometres is being applied uniformly and equitably on a national basis.

In line with the terms of the national primary school transport scheme, children residing less than 3.2kms may only apply for transport on a concessionary basis, subject to a number of conditions.

In this particular case Bus Éireann has reported that 8 children are no longer eligible for school transport as they reside less than 3.2 kilometres from the school. These children are however availing of school transport on a concessionary basis this year.

It is essential to stress that the wider context within which this and other changes are taking place, is a situation of the most serious financial difficulties. Under the four year recovery plan, there is a requirement to deliver savings of €17 million on the school transport budget and these measures are an integral part of this.