Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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728. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to allocate a school bus transport service for students (details supplied) to commence at Johnstownbridge in County Kildare and to stop at Enfield in County Meath from September 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7063/16]

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 transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Bus Éireann has advised that children residing in the Johnstown Bridge area are not eligible for school transport as they are not attending their nearest education centre.

These children may only avail of school transport on a concessionary basis.

Under the terms of the Scheme, school transport on a concessionary basis is subject to a number of terms and conditions including that there are spare seats available on an existing school bus service and on payment of the annual charge. Routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis.

The terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.