Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)
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179. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will review its post-primary transport policy in respect of a student (details supplied) in County Leitrim, to facilitate that student in remaining in her current secondary school; if the scheme takes account of the length and safety of a journey from the family home to the bus collection point; if the policy considers the safety of the student making that journey when assessing the appropriate school for the student to attend; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17074/15]

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.

As the Deputy is aware, the child in question is not attending her nearest 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.

Bus Éireann which operates the School Transport Scheme is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes and for the designation of pick-up and set-down points. In general, routes are planned to avoid an eligible child having to travel more than 3.2 kilometres to or from a pick up/set down point. Routes are planned on the basis of the locations of children who are eligible for school transport only.

Parents are responsible for ensuring that children are brought safely to and collected safely from these designated pick up and set down points.

The terms of the scheme are applied equitably on a national basis and I am satisfied with the current eligibility criteria.