asked the Minister for Education the reason the children of persons (details supplied) in Cooraclare, County Clare, cannot get free travel to school.
Written Answers. - Clare School Transport.
463.
Under the primary school transport scheme, eligible children are allowed free transport to their nearest national school only.
Those children in question who are national school pupils are not attending their nearest school, Leitrim National School, and are therefore ineligible for free transport.
Under the post primary free education scheme, the country has been divided into catchment areas. Recognised post primary pupils who reside at least three miles from the post primary centre of the catchment area in which they live qualify for free transport to that centre. When such a pupil attends a school in another centre he/she may be allowed free transport from the nearest pick-up point inside the catchment boundary of the centre attended on the transport service to that centre if a spare seat is available and no extra cost to the State ensues. The pupil must make his/her own way to the catchment boundary.
Those children in question who are attending post primary school reside in the catchment area of Kilmihil and are eligible for free transport to that centre and there is a suitable transport service nearby. As they are attending school in another catchment area they must make their own way to the catchment boundary of that centre (pick-up point Creegh) and they may avail of free transport from there. I understand they are availing of that facility.