Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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183. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will assure parents of children at a school (details supplied) in County Donegal that they will not lose a teacher at this school; if she will support their case that the enrolment falls just two pupils short of the 115-pupil threshold required to retain the current team of five teachers. [17929/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on the Department's website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements for the coming school year 2015/16 are set out in Circular 0005/2015 which is available on the website.

A staffing appeals process is available to schools under certain criteria. Details of the appeals criteria are set out in Circular 0005/2015. The next meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board will take place later this month. The closing date for receipt of appeals for this meeting is Friday 8th May.

The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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184. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address the concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17949/15]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Bus Éireann operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department. This scheme has been in existence since 1967, and is based on accounting arrangements put in place in 1975.

An investigation was launched by the Commission in 2007 after receiving a complaint that, among other activities, alleged unlawful State aid was being provided to Bus Éireann in respect of school transport services.

The Commission's Decision found that the scheme was existing aid and for this reason was not unlawful at the time the complaint was made. The Commission Decision was not a ruling on the tendering arrangements in place between the Department of Education and Skills and Bus Éireann for the School Transport Scheme.

However the Commission indicated that it would initiate dialogue with Ireland to agree on appropriate measures to ensure that the School Transport Scheme is compatible with the internal market in the future. The Department has commenced an informal dialogue with the Commission in this regard.