Vol. 482 No. 3
359 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science whether a review will take place in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal who lives over three miles from his primary school in view of the fact that the bus currently passes him on the road as he walks the distance to school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17673/97]
Under the terms of the school transport scheme, eligibility is determined by the distance from the pupil's home to the nearest appropriate school. This distance is measured by Bus Éireann, taking the shortest traversable route.
Bus Éireann recently examined the matter and have advised my Department that the pupil in question resides 2.6 miles from his appropriate post-primary centre. As this is less than the required distance of three miles, he is not deemed eligible for transport under the post-primary school transport scheme.
However, my Department would be prepared to consider allowing this pupil avail of concessionary transport, at £37 per term. Concessionary tickets are issued subject to there being accommodation available after all fully eligible pupils have been catered for, and provided no extra State cost is incurred.
