Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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167. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a reply will issue to correspondence, details supplied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35993/14]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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176. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding school transport in respect of a person, details supplied, in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36147/14]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 176 together.

Changes to the School Transport Scheme have generated an increase in the number of queries and representations to my Department and when combined with the routine administrative work undertaken within my Department in relation to school transport provision generally, regrettably, it was not feasible to deal with the increased volume of representations in a more timely manner.

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 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Bus Éireann has advised that the family in question are not attending their nearest school and therefore are not eligible for school transport. However, as one child had been incorrectly categorised as eligible, she can continue to avail of school transport under the current arrangements for the remainder of the 2014/15 school year.

The second child in question may only avail of transport on a concessionary basis and in this regard the family should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office in Stranorlar which can be contacted at 074-9131008 or by e-mail at schools.stranorlar@buseireann.ie

While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport is to the nearest school.

The terms of the School Transport Schemes are applied equitably on a national basis.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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168. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding school transport in respect of a student, details supplied, in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36016/14]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for transport where they are attending the nearest recognised school that is or can be resourced to meet their special educational needs.

The National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) acts in an advisory role to my Department on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs.

The school this child is attending is not the nearest school resourced to meet her educational needs and therefore she is not eligible for school transport to this school.

However, Bus Éireann has advised that the child is availing of transport on a concessionary basis.

While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport is to the nearest school.