Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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184. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the case of a child (details supplied) in County Louth who is being refused school transport, yet this child's two older siblings are attending the same school and are deemed eligible for school transport; if her further attention has been drawn to the fact that the national school which the child attends is the closest school, 3.9 km from the family home; if this decision will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37593/14]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Bus Éireann, which operates the scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that the child in question is not attending his nearest national 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.

In general, existing eligible children and children who had an eligibility for school transport under the former "Closed School Rule" retain their transport eligibility for the duration of their primary education cycle provided there is no change to their current circumstances.

Siblings of these children and other children who are not attending their nearest school may apply for school transport on a concessionary basis only in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Primary School Transport Scheme.

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

The family should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office in Dundalk (Tel. No. 042-9355065) regarding the availability of school transport on a concessionary basis.