Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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460. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a list of all the financial supports available to second level students living in the Dublin area who are using Dublin Bus for school transport purposes. [7043/15]

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

Children who are eligible for school transport pay an annual charge of €350 subject to a maximum of €650 per family per annum. This charge, which may be paid in two instalments in July and December, is a contribution towards the overall cost and does not reflect the true cost of providing school transport services. Children who are eligible for school transport and who hold valid medical cards (GMS Scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge.

In addition, eligible children for whom no service is available may be sanctioned for a remote area grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements; full details of this grant are available on the Department's website at www.education.ie.

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

Post Primary children living in the Dublin area who are not eligible for school transport may purchase a daily/weekly Child Leap Card on Dublin Bus Services.