Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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165. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that concessions do not apply on a service (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34878/15]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Children are eligible for Post Primary 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.

In general, transport services are not established in areas where suitable public scheduled bus services already exist. In such cases children who are eligible for school transport are facilitated with travel permits for these services.

Children who are not eligible for school transport may avail of transport on a concessionary basis only subject to a number of terms and conditions including that there are spare seats available on an existing school bus service and no additional cost is incurred by the State.

To facilitate children on a concessionary basis on scheduled services would involve additional cost and therefore it is not a feature of my Department's School Transport Schemes. However, reduced child and student fares and 10 journey tickets can be availed of on public scheduled services instead.