Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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395. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to the post-primary school transport scheme, if the eligibility rule requiring a pupil to live at least 4.8 kilometres from the nearest school is set aside if there is no bus route to that nearest school but there is a bus route to another appropriate school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38391/13]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

The terms of scheme are being applied equitably on a national basis.

An eligible child for whom no transport service is available may, following an application for transport within the prescribed time limits, receive a Remote Area Grant (RAG) towards the cost of private transport arrangements.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, to their school of attendance, may apply to Bus Éireann for 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.