Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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162. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if it is acceptable that some of the bus service for a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath was cut following the granting of an application for an extension that included a provision to accommodate parking, making it impossible for the school to honour its road safety commitments; if she will retore the full bus service so that the roads are kept safe around the school and demand for parking returns to the level at which it was before the cut. [43198/15]

Damien English (Meath West, 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 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

I understand that there are a number of children who wish to avail of transport to the school in question who are not eligible for school transport as they reside less than 3.2 kilometres from the school.

Children who are not eligible for school transport may avail of transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of conditions including the availability of spare seats and the payment of the annual charge.

In this regard, parents should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office in Athlone at 090 6473277.

In general, individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care.

I also wish to advise the Deputy that the issue of road safety measures outside the vested site areas of schools, such as road signage, traffic calming measures, parking etc., is a matter that should be raised in the first instance with the relevant Local Authority.