Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of the existing school transport service provided by Bus Éireann to one school (details provided) in County Mayo in each year for the past three years and the cost of extending the service to facilitate pupils of another school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11861/13]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language; this eligibility criteria is applied equitably on a national basis. Bus Éireann operates the Scheme on behalf of my Department and is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes and services which are determined by the number of eligible children who apply for school transport each year. While the cost of individual routes or services is regarded as commercially sensitive, the Value for Money Review of the School Transport Scheme showed that the school transport unit cost per mainstream child is some €1,000 per annum.