Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 November 2014
121. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 182 of 2 October 2014 if she will review the application for transport assistance as the person is attending the nearest boarding school with an all-Irish ethos on the mainland and has to attend a boarding school as it is not feasible for them to attend a day school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44591/14]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Bus Éireann has advised that the child referred to by the Deputy is not attending her nearest all-Irish boarding school on the mainland and is therefore not eligible for school transport.
While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport is to the nearest school.
The terms of the School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
