Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 233: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which he will meet with a delegation (details supplied), whom he has made commitments to meet since March; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29290/12]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware of the changes to the Post Primary School Transport Scheme that will take effect from the beginning of the 2012/13 school year. These changes will be applied equitably on a national basis. Bus Éireann will be communicating directly with families who already avail of school transport services and with families who have applied for the first time. Existing eligible children will retain their school transport eligibility for the duration of their post primary education cycle provided there are no changes to their current circumstances. The new eligibility criteria will only apply to those pupils who are newly entering a post primary school in the 2012/13 school year. 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.