Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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85. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a school bus system to pupils, particularly at emergency accommodation locations where there is no alternative public bus route, for example, at the Clayton Hotel on the R139, given disruption many homeless children face in their schooling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10771/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme 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 Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 3.2 or 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school or post primary centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

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.

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 school transport eligibility of children in emergency accommodation is considered in conjunction with Bus Éireann which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department.