School Transport.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 September 2006

Wednesday, 27 September 2006

Questions (1269)

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

1338 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation regarding the provision of school transport to pupils in a school outside their catchment area, where a number of school subjects are not available to these pupils in the school within their catchment area; if those pupils are entitled to school transport to the next nearest school where these subjects are available to them but which is outside their catchment area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29332/06]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Miss de Valera)

Under 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. Pupils who are eligible for transport to the education centre in the catchment area in which they reside may avail of ‘catchment boundary' transport to an education centre in another catchment area provided spare seats are available on the school bus. Eligibility for school transport is not determined by way of subject choice.