John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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572. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny is being asked to pay for school transport; and if the case will be examined as the household income is illness benefit and the transport cost is causing hardship. [15290/15]

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 the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Bus Éireann which operates the School Transport Scheme has advised that the child referred to by the Deputy is not attending her nearest post primary school and is therefore not eligible for school transport; only children who are eligible for school transport and who hold a valid Medical Card (GMS Scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge.

While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport at post primary level is to the nearest education centre/school.