Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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1437. 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [34743/14]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, under my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme, 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. The terms are applied equitably on a national basis.

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 eligible for school transport but for whom no service is available may be eligible for the Remote Area Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements; details of this grant are available on the Department's website at www.education.ie.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1438. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) in County Cavan will be able to avail of free transport to a second level school which the person has been attending since the commencement of the 2013-2014 school year, in view of the fact that the nearest school to the person's home was full and could not offer a place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34746/14]

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 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.

Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that the child in question is not attending his nearest education centre and is therefore not eligible for school transport.

Children who are not eligible for school transport 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. Bus Éireann has confirmed that there is a seat available on the existing service and the family should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office if they wish to avail of transport on a concessionary basis.

The family in question has not provided information to my Department on their application for enrolment in their nearest school. In cases where my Department is satisfied that the nearest school is full at the time of first enrolment, consideration may be given to granting eligibility for school transport to the next nearest school.