Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason secondary school persons (details supplied) in County Mayo are being denied school transport even though the bus servicing the school of their choice passes by their door; the reason these same persons are being told by Bus Éireann to avail of a service to other schools even though there is no existing bus to service such a run; his views on whether this system is unfair and insensible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33305/12]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Changes to the Post Primary School Transport Scheme were announced in Budget 2011 and derive from recommendations in the Value for Money Review of the School Transport Scheme.

The main change to the current scheme 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, as heretofore, to ethos and language. In general, children who are currently eligible for, and who are availing of school transport, will retain their transport eligibility for the duration of their post primary education cycle unless there is a change in their current circumstances. Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport to a particular school on a concessionary basis in accordance with the terms of the scheme.

The planning and organising of school bus routes is an operational matter for Bus Éireann which operates the School Transport Schemes on behalf of my Department. Bus routes are planned in such a way as to ensure that, as far as possible, eligible children have a reasonable level of service while at the same time ensuring that school transport vehicles are utilised in an efficient and cost effective manner. Services are reviewed over the summer months and may be altered or extended depending on the number of eligible children who apply for school transport, and pay the annual charge, for the following school year.