School Staffing

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 December 2015

Thursday, 17 December 2015

Questions (537)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

537. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will amend the current rules under the school transport scheme whereby, in determining eligibility for school transport, applicants must meet the relevant distance criteria and must attend their nearest school; having regard to ethos and language, if school-goers would enjoy greater freedom to choose which school they would attend if a certain degree of flexibility was exercised with regard to the enforcement of this requirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45725/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The purpose of my Department's School Transport Schemes is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, under the terms of the schemes, may apply to Bus Éireann for transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service and the payment of the annual charge.

While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport at primary and post primary level is to the nearest school/education centre.

It makes economic sense that the provision of school transport should be to the nearest school and I have no plans to review the current eligibility criteria.