Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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189. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding school transport in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28401/14]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of my Department's School Transport Schemes is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. Children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport is to the nearest school or education centre. In certain areas, families who choose to send their children to schools other than their nearest diminish the chance of a service being established to their nearest school.

Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only subject to a number of terms and conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service and payment of the annual charge. This charge, which may be paid in two instalments in July and December, is a contribution towards the overall cost and does not reflect the true cost of providing these services. Only children who are eligible for school transport and who hold valid medical cards (GMS Scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge. The terms of the School Transport Schemes are applied equitably on a national basis.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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190. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the situation in respect of a post-primary school transport scheme (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28413/14]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of my Department's School Transport Schemes is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. The Deputy will be aware that from the commencement of the 2012/13 school year, school transport eligibility for post primary pupils is being determined by reference to the distance they reside from their nearest post-primary education centre having regard to ethos and language.

Pupils who were eligible for school transport prior to the introduction of the above change will retain their transport eligibility for the duration of their post primary education cycle provided there is no change to their current circumstances. Siblings of these pupils and other pupils, who are not eligible for school transport, may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only in accordance with the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme. Only children who are eligible for school transport and who hold valid medical cards (GMS Scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge. The terms of the School Transport Schemes are applied equitably on a national basis.