Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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472. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the concerns raised by parents in respect of school transport (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43120/14]

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 kms from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

In relation to school transport provision, ethos relates to religious ethos and is in the context of provision for minority religions.

Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally. Routes, pick up/set down points and timetables are planned on the basis of the locations of children who are eligible for school transport only.

Bus Éireann who operate school transport on behalf of my Department has advised that the families in question are not eligible for school transport and are currently availing of transport on a concessionary basis; the full terms of such transport are available on my Department's/Bus Éireann's website.

Bus Éireann is satisfied that the current pick-up and set-down point is as safe as other pick-up / set-down points being used by pupils travelling under the school transport scheme throughout the country.