Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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1428. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on whether it would be more appropriate to base eligibility for the school transport scheme on distance from the nearest education centre which is located on an existing bus route, rather than an education centre (details supplied) in County Cork which is inaccessible because it is not on an existing route; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34624/14]

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

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.

Families of eligible children, for whom there is no school transport service available, are eligible for the remote area grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements.

The child referred to by the Deputy is not attending her nearest school and is therefore not eligible for school transport.

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.

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 of the Post Primary Scheme.

The terms of the School Transport Schemes are applied equitably on a national basis.