Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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151. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to change the current eligibility criteria for the post-primary school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21096/15]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of my Department's School Transport Schemes is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.

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.

While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport is to the nearest school or education centre.

The terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis and I am satisfied with the current criteria for determining eligibility.