Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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177. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the distance requirements in place for school transport eligibility; if her attention has been drawn to the minimum distance of 4.8 km from the nearest education centre is placing severe pressure on families in rural areas who are just outside of this limit, in view of the fact that there is no public transport in these areas and parents may be working and unable to drive these pupils to school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45712/14]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote i.e. 4.8 kilometres or more from their nearest education centre.

The report of Value for Money Review of the School Transport Scheme found that the current prescribed distance requirements are generally in line with international practice.

Any proposal to reduce the qualifying distance for establishing eligibility would significantly increase operating costs. For this reason, it is not intended to change the current eligibility criteria for school transport services.