Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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329. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the methods used by his Department to decide which school bus routes to pay for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46686/13]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The main objective of my Department's Primary and Post Primary School Transport Schemes is to support the safe transportation to and from school of children who would otherwise have difficulty making their way, for reasons of distance, to their nearest school.

The school transport schemes are operated by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department and currently over 114,000 children travel under these schemes every school day, including over 8,000 children with special educational needs.

In general, children are considered eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria and are attending their nearest school or education centre having regard to ethos and language. In addition, school transport services may be established or retained provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits,where there are a minimum of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann.

Full details of the school transport schemes, where eligibility requirements and other conditions are outlined, are available on my Department's website.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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330. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the dates on which his Department first recorded names and addresses of children it transports on school transport. [46687/13]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Since its inception, Bus Éireann has operated the School Transport Scheme on behalf of my Department.

In each school year, the names and addresses of children applying for school transport, in addition to those already availing of school transport have been recorded by Bus Éireann.