Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 September 2006
1316 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the financial assistance which will be offered to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare towards school transport costs for their child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29094/06]
View answerUnder the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme, a pupil is eligible for transport if s/he resides 4.8 kilometres or more from her/his local post primary education centre, that is, the centre serving the catchment area in which s/he lives.
The scheme is not designed to facilitate parents who choose to send their children to a post-primary centre outside of the catchment area in which they reside. In such circumstances, financial assistance is not available towards the cost of private school transport arrangements.
1317 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will reinstate school transport for children attending a school in County Kildare due to the increase in children who are attending same and are interested in his service, with particular reference to the need expressed by the children of a person (detail supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29095/06]
View answerTo be eligible for transport under the terms of the Primary School Transport scheme a child must be living 3.2 kilometres or more and attending their nearest suitable national school as determined by my Department.
According to records in my Department, the family referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, is not eligible for transport to the school referred to. If the Deputy wishes to provide my Department with the names and addresses of other pupils offering for school transport to the school in question I will arrange to have each case examined to determine eligibility.
