Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 4

Written Answers - School Transport.

Patrick J. Morley

Question:

197 Mr. Morley asked the Minister for Education the reason a pupil (details supplied) in County Mayo was refused free transport on the grounds that he was 0.1 of a mile inside the distance limit when in fact the total distance from his dwelling house to where he attends class was not measured and a family attending the same school and travelling the same route and actually residing on the school side of this pupil's house qualified for free school transport. [21038/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

Post primary school transport entitlement is determined by the distance measured from a pupil's home to a central point in their appropriate post primary centre, not to the school they attend. Eligible pupils must be a minimum of three miles distant.

The central point in the post primary centre to which the Deputy refers changed in June 1993 due to the closure of a post primary school in the area. The pupil in question, who recently applied for transport, resides 2.8 miles from this central point and is ineligible for free school transport on distance grounds.

It has only recently come to my Department's attention that a family in the same area has been availing of school transport contrary to the terms of the school transport scheme. This matter is currently being examined.