Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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597. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there have been any instances where a decision by Bus Éireann not to grant free school transport to students on the basis that the students are not attending their nearest school have been overturned; if Bus Éireann has the power of discretion to grant free transport to students who are not attending their nearest school; the number of instances where such discretion has been exercised by Bus Éireann; the number of such instances that have happened on the direction of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15611/15]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that under the terms of my Department's School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for school transport when they meet the relevant distance criteria and are attending their nearest school, having regard to ethos and language; the terms are applied equitably on a national basis.

I can confirm that Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of my Department, does not have discretionary powers in relation to the application of the terms of the schemes. If the Deputy has a particular case in mind, I will be happy to request a more detailed report from Bus Éireann.