Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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708. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills why she has deemed a person (details supplied) in County Carlow eligible for transport to the school nearest the person's home in September 2016, which has no direct link, but she has not deemed the person eligible for transport via another route which passes the person's home. [6046/16]

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 the Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 km from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann.

A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment of a school transport service, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.

As more children choose to attend their nearest schools, services may be established with pick-up points designed around the home addresses of these eligible children. Families who choose to send their children to schools other than their nearest diminish the chance of a service being established to their nearest school.

Families of eligible children, for whom no transport service is available, may be eligible for the remote area grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements.

Children who are not eligible for school transport may avail of transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of conditions which are detailed in the scheme.

The family in question should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office if they wish to avail of transport on a concessionary basis.