Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to correspondence (details supplied); if he will approve realigning the boundary of eligibility for transport between the two schools mentioned therein; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14854/13]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Changes to the Post Primary School Transport Scheme mean that from the 2012/13 school year, eligibility for all pupils newly entering a post primary school is 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, existing eligible and catchment boundary children including those who are not attending their nearest post primary centre retain their transport eligibility for the duration of their post primary education cycle provided there is no change to their current circumstances. Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Distance eligibility is determined by measuring the shortest traversable route from a child's home to the relevant education centre; the route travelled by a school transport service is not a consideration in determining distance eligibility for school transport. The terms of the scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, under the terms of the scheme, may apply to Bus Éireann for transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service and the payment of the annual charge.