The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.
As previously outlined to the Deputy in recent parliamentary questions, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
With regard to ethos, the Department of Education classifies schools as being one of the following - of religious denomination, interdenominational or multi-denominational.
The post-primary school transport scheme supports the transport to and from school of children who live more than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post-primary education centre/school. It is subject to the following exceptions:
• children who choose to attend their nearest minority religious denominational school due to religious ethos may be eligible for school transport to that school, even if it is not their nearest school
• children who choose to attend their nearest all-Irish school/unit may be eligible for school transport to that school/unit, even if it is not their nearest school
• children who choose to attend their nearest all-English school/unit may be eligible for school transport to that school/unit, even if it is not their nearest school
It is not the case, as stated by the Deputy, that children who have attended an all-Irish-language primary school may be eligible for school transport to an all-Irish secondary school if it is outside of the provisions included in the post-primary school transport scheme. Eligibility for school transport to all-Irish speaking schools/unit is outlined above.
