School Transport Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 April 2015

Thursday, 2 April 2015

Questions (226)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

226. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to recent discussions, if her Department will review its primary school transport policy in respect of a community (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13680/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of my Department, determine eligibility by measuring the shortest traversable route from a child's home to the relevant national school.

The terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis and it would not be appropriate for me to allow exceptions to these terms.