The position, generally, is that eligibility for school transport is determined by reference to age and distance from the nearest suitable school. In order to be eligible for free transport, children under ten years of age must live at least two miles from, and be attending their nearest national school, while older children must live at least three miles away.
Where a child is attending a school other than the nearest, it is necessary to obtain the written agreement of the board of management of the nearest school to the provision of fare paying transport. By seeking the written agreement of the nearest school before allowing this concession, there can be no question of my Department facilitating a change in enrolment patterns or encouraging children to leave their appropriate nearest school.
A board of management is entitled to refuse to sign a written agreement in respect of pupils who are eligible for transport to its school, and who wish to avail of concessionary fare paying transport to another school. In circumstances where written agreement is not forthcoming, my Department is not in a position to provide transport facilities.
