Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 543: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a school (details supplied) in County Donegal, which has 69 pupils enrolled, is not currently able to meet the minimum criteria of at least seven children living beyond 3.2 kilometres to attain a Department of Education bus and, therefore, all children must be taken to school by car; if, in line with best environmental practices she will consider reducing the mileage ratio down to 1 mile or even 1 kilometre in rural areas in order to minimise car use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12304/07]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that, in recent years, the enhancement of the safety of school transport operations has been a priority and substantial funding has been provided for that purpose. As a consequence, the "3 for 2" seating arrangement has been phased out and all children travelling on buses in the school transport scheme now have a seat of their own. Bus Éireann has acquired additional vehicles and hired in extra private vehicles to offset the consequential capacity shortfall. The enhancement of safety both on and in the vicinity of school buses will continue to be afforded high priority. The allocation for school transport in 2007 is €165 million, an increase of 62% on the 2003 financial outturn. Any move as suggested by the Deputy to reduce the qualifying distance for establishing eligibility for transport will further increase operating costs. At present, over 134,000 children are carried each day to primary and post-primary schools, including in the region of 8,000 children with special educational needs. Children with special educational needs may be eligible for transport from home to school, depending on the nature of their disability. While I have no immediate plans to reduce the qualifying distance of 3.2 kilometres for the purpose of establishing a pupil's eligibility for school transport at primary level, I will keep the matter under review.