John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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239. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will impose strict rules determining distinct localities rather than these being decided by Bus Éireann or anybody else on her behalf; if documented and published rules are necessary to avoid inequitable situations and to provide fair and sound administration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43228/15]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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242. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons who contacted her Department or Bus Éireann with complaints regarding routes or services not being made available due to decisions made regarding what is or is not a distinct locality with a minimum number of ten customers for the route, since the decision-making process was taken over by Bus Éireann; the dates the decision-making process was agreed and commenced by Bus Éireann; the number of routes that have been discontinued as a result of the ten-customer rule; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43241/15]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 242 together.

The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.

Changes to my Department's School Transport Scheme were announced on the 7 December 2010, as part of measures announced in Budget 2011, and derived from recommendations contained in the Value for Money review of the scheme. The budgetary changes included an increase from seven to ten in the minimum number of eligible children required to establish or retain a service and this change is being implemented by Bus Éireann.

Families of eligible children, for whom a school transport service was withdrawn as it fell below the minimum number, are eligible for the remote area grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements.

Below are details of the number of services withdrawn.

The terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme are available on my Department and Bus Éireann websites.

As defined in the Scheme, for school bus operating purposes a "distinct locality" is a cluster of eligible children who reside in the same general area, in the same general direction from the school attended, as determined by Bus Éireann taking cognisance of the local road network.

I am satisfied that this definition is commonly understood and is implemented in a fair and transparent manner.

Withdrawal of Services Under Minimum Numbers