Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the review of the school transport scheme and the reconfiguration of school catchment boundaries; when the report will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40763/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Value for Money Review of the School Transport Scheme, including catchment boundaries, is currently underway and is due to be completed before the end of this year.

The Steering Committee is looking at the original objectives of the scheme, whether these objectives remain valid today, the extent to which the objectives are being achieved and whether there are possibilities for economies or efficiencies that would improve the value for money of the scheme. In this context, the review is also looking at fundamental issues such as catchment boundaries.

The review, when completed, will be published and sent to the Oireachtas Select Committee on Education and Science

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when a school (details supplied) in County Cork will be provided with school transport for a number of students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40775/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of the Section 1.4 of the primary school transport scheme a service may be continued for as long as there are four eligible children and a minimum of six fare-paying children availing of the service.

Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme, on behalf of my Department, advised that the number of children availing of the service to the school referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, had fallen below the minimum number required to maintain this service. As a result, and in accordance with the terms of the scheme, the service was withdrawn with effect from the commencement of the current school year.

The school in question has now submitted an application for transport in respect of a number of additional pupils, who according to Bus Éireann had not previously applied for transport. In this regard, the provision of a transport service is currently under review.