asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that school children under 12 years of age are not entitled to free school transport to attend secondary schools; and if he will take steps to rectify the position.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Transport.
62.
The benefits of the free post-primary transport scheme are confined to recognised post-primary pupils. A recognised post-primary pupil is one who will be not less than 12 years on the 1st January in the school year in which he commences post-primary education and who has completed sixth standard in a national school. Children who are under the age of recognition as post-primary school pupils should, ordinarily, be attending national schools, and it would not be appropriate that free transport facilities should be given them while enrolled in a non-recognised capacity in post-primary schools.