Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will re-examine and reconsider the introduction of phase 2 of the closed school rule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37531/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Changes to the School Transport Schemes, including the 'Closed School Rule (CSR)', were announced in Budget 2011 and derive from recommendations in the Value for Money Review of the Scheme.

The Deputy will be aware that from September 2011, the distance criterion of 3.2 kilometres was applied nationally to all pupils travelling under the primary school transport scheme, including those travelling under the CSR.

The second element of the change is scheduled to take effect in September 2012 and will apply only in the case of pupils commencing their primary education from that date. This second element will restrict school transport eligibility for those pupils entering in September 2012, to pupils who meet the distance eligibility criterion and are travelling to their nearest school.

An analysis by Bus Éireann on the most up to date information available on current school transport usage patterns for schools served with transport under the CSR is advancing. As this second element of the change is not due to be implemented until September 2012 I will carefully examine the likely affects of this change well in advance of the implementation date.

It is essential to stress that the wider context within which these changes are taking place, is a situation of the most serious financial difficulties. Under the four year recovery plan, there is a requirement to deliver savings of €17 million on the school transport budget and these measures, including the ceasing of the closed school rule, are an integral part of this.