Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a child is eligible for school transport under the primary school transport scheme to a school other than their nearest school on an equal footing as other eligible children in cases where the nearest school to the child cannot accommodate the child due to lack of places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15983/13]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, under the terms of the scheme, may avail of transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of a conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service and the payment of the annual charge. Having regard to the enrolment process undertaken by parents, and where my Department is then satisfied that children cannot be accommodated at their nearest school, transport eligibility will be determined by reference to the distance the children reside from their next nearest school.