Written answers

Tuesday, 23 September 2014

Department of Education and Skills

School Transport Applications

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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442. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a reply will be provided to this Deputy's correspondence regarding a school transport issue (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35348/14]

Photo of Damien EnglishDamien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Changes to the School Transport Scheme have generated an increase in the number of queries and representations to my Department and when combined with the routine administrative work undertaken within my Department in relation to school transport provision generally, regrettably, it was not feasible to deal with the increased volume of representations in a more timely manner.

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 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Bus Éireann has advised that the family in question are not attending their nearest school and therefore are not eligible for school transport. However, as one child had been incorrectly categorised as eligible, she can continue to avail of school transport under the current arrangements for the remainder of the 2014/15 school year. The second child in question may only avail of transport on a concessionary basis and in this regard the family should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office in Stranorlar which can be contacted at 074-9131008 or by e-mail at schools.stranorlar@buseireann.ie

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

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