More than one in four of the school population in the North qualifies for assistance at a cost of more than £80 million a year.
A child is eligible if they enrol at their nearest “suitable” secondary school which is beyond the three-mile qualifying distance from their home.
The term “suitable” is defined as being a grant-aided school in any one of several categories that include integrated, Catholic, state and Irish-medium.
It also includes grammar schools, meaning thousands of children receive a free bus pass even if they live closer to several non-grammar secondary providers. Means-testing has been suggested as one way to raise revenue and ease huge financial pressures across the system.
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