Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in the case in which a school bus service is being discontinued as a result of not meeting the minimum number of pupils availing of the service, whether it is permissible to amalgamate both primary and secondary bus services in those cases in which such an arrangement would be practical locally and when this would be of no extra cost to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28325/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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One of the changes to the School Transport Scheme, which was announced in the 2011 Budget, was an increase to ten in the minimum number of eligible pupils, residing in a distinct locality, required to establish or retain an individual school transport service. Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Schemes on behalf of my Department, is responsible for the routing and timetabling of services. Buses may operate double trips in the morning and afternoon to facilitate primary and post primary schools which have different starting and finishing times. This ensures that school transport vehicles are fully utilised in the most efficient and cost effective manner.

If the Deputy wishes to forward details of the particular circumstances of the case in mind, I will be happy to ask Bus Éireann to report on the matter. I would also like to advise the Deputy that families of eligible pupils, for whom there is no school transport service available, may apply for a remote area grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements.