Liam Aylward
Question:136 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will arrange to have free transport approved for persons (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [3458/01]
Written Answers. - School Transport.
The position generally is that in order to be eligible for free transport, children must live at least two miles from their nearest appropriate school and be attending that school.
The pupils referred to by the Deputy reside 1.3 miles from the national school concerned, and are ineligible for free transport on distance grounds. Pupils who are ineligible for free transport, may be allowed concessionary fare-paying transport on condition that there is room available on a service after all fully eligible pupils have been accommodated, and provided no extra cost is involved by way of extending or altering the route of the service. The concessionary fare is £20 a term per pupil.
As the pupils in question are not eligible for free transport, it is not possible to waive the concessionary fare.