Vol. 468 No. 4
418 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education the reason a student (details supplied) in County Tipperary who is in third class in national school must pay a school bus fare in spite of the fact that he lives furthest away from the parish national school due to the closure of three other national schools. [15044/96]
School Transport entitlement is determined on the basis of the shortest available walking distance to the nearest school, rather than parish or other boundaries, such as county boundaries. The child referred to by the Deputy is not attending his nearest school, and is therefore entitled to concessionery fare-paying transport only, under the terms of the school transport scheme. Only in the event that the parents-legal guardians are medical card holders can the fare be waived.
