Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details regarding the number of school transport appeals submitted to the School Transport Appeals Board; the number granted and the criteria surrounding the appeals that were approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47766/12]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The full terms of reference for the School Transport Appeals Board, which is independent of my Department, are available on the Department's website at www.education.ie.

In the current year to date the board has considered 125 cases and in all but one of these cases found that the terms and conditions of the scheme were properly applied by the Department and Bus Éireann. The one case that was allowed related to the issuing of a ticket for a school transport service and was an operational matter for Bus Éireann.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether a student who qualifies for free school transport and who with regard to the Irish language is now travelling to a school that is not the nearest post primary school, should have to pay for school transport; if it contravenes the criteria as determined by his Department and Bus Éireann having regard to ethos and language (details supplied) [47767/12]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Under the terms of my Department's post primary school transport scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 km from and are attending their nearest education centre, as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Children who are not eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme may apply to Bus Éireann for transport on a concessionary basis provided there are spare seats available on the service and the appropriate annual charge is paid. Only eligible children who hold valid medical cards (GMS Scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge.