Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will meet with the parents of schoolchildren from an area (details supplied) regarding changes to the school transport scheme to discuss the impact that these changes are having on their families and their children's education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12146/12]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his view on a presentation he recently received from the parents of children from an area (details supplied) regarding changes to the school transport scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12147/12]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together.

From the commencement of the 2012/13 school year, the use of the Catchment Boundary Area (CB) System as a means of determining eligibility will cease for all pupils newly entering post primary school. This means that from the 2012/13 school year, school transport eligibility for all pupils newly entering a post primary school will be determined by reference to the distance they reside from their nearest post-primary education centre having regard to ethos and language. This change was announced as part of Budget 2011 but is not being introduced until the 2012/13 school year in order to allow parents of children newly entering post primary school ample time to consider their school choice options, taking account of the revised school transport eligibility arrangements.

At post primary level, the evidence is, as set out in the Value for Money Review of the School Transport Schemes, that the majority of children are attending their nearest post primary school/centre. The changes to the Post Primary School Transport Scheme will be applied equitably on a national basis.

Given that Bus Éireann will be communicating with the families currently availing of post primary school transport and that I have already set out the rationale underpinning the policy position for the Deputy and other local representatives and cannot make any exceptions to the policy, it is not feasible for me to meet with individual groups of parents to discuss these changes.