School Transport.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004

Tuesday, 27 April 2004

Questions (364)

Olwyn Enright

Question:

423 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason members of a family (details supplied) in County Laois have been refused free school transport to Camross National School, Camross, Mountrath, County Laois despite the fact that school transport is unavailable to the school in the catchment area where the Department state they are entitled to school transport; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the difference in distance is one mile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11826/04]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

Under the terms of the primary school transport scheme, only eligible children qualify for free transport. To be eligible, children must live at least two miles from, and be attending their nearest national school.

The family referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied reside 2.7 miles from their nearest national school and 2.9 miles from Camross national school, and is therefore not basically eligible for free transport.

As there is no school transport service available to their nearest school the family members have been offered concessionary fare paying transport on a service to Camross national school which passes their home.