Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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101. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills why persons (details supplied) find themselves in a situation where the eldest child who is nine years of age qualifies for the school bus and the two younger members of the family who are six and eight years of age are concessionary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18167/16]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Changes to the School Transport Schemes, including the 'Closed School Rule (CSR)', were announced in Budget 2011 and derived from recommendations in the Value for Money Review of the Scheme.

From the commencement of the 2011/12 school year the distance eligibility criterion of 3.2 kilometres was applied nationally to all children travelling under the primary school transport scheme, including those travelling under the CSR.

The second element of the change which took effect from the commencement of the 2012/13 school year applied only in the case of children commencing their primary education from that date. This second element restricted eligibility for school transport to those children who meet the distance eligibility criterion and are travelling to their nearest school.

Children who were eligible for school transport and who are availing of school transport services, will retain their eligibility for the duration of their primary education cycle provided there is no change in their current circumstances.

Bus Éireann has advised that the older child, referred to by the Deputy, is eligible for school transport under the CSR. However, her siblings are not attending their nearest school, and are therefore not eligible under the terms of the scheme.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only. 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.

The family should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office regarding the availability of concessionary transport for the 2016/17 school year.

The terms of this scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.