Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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164. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the review into the nearest school rule relating to school transport; if its implementation has forced small school closures, particularly in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the amount of money it has saved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19101/16]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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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. The overall costs of the scheme have reduced by some 7% since 2008 as a result of policy changes and other efficiencies.

In relation to the Department's forward planning policy, school accommodation needs are assessed based on local demographic trends, current and projected enrolments, recent and planned housing developments and the capacity of existing schools to meet demand for places. In this regard, it makes sense that children have their eligibility for school transport determined by the distance they reside from their nearest school.

The Programme for Government commits to review the concessionary charges and rules element of the School Transport Scheme prior to Budget 2017.

This review, which is being commenced, will be aimed at identifying issues in relation to current rules and charges relating to concessionary places under the School Transport Scheme with a view to maximising the effectiveness of available services for children.

The results of the review will be considered in the context of Budget 2017.

Pending this review, there will be no planned programme of downsizing school buses in the coming school year. There will be route changes and variations in line with normal operational decisions that occur from year to year, and any impacts in terms of increases or decreases of available places will be marginal, in line with what occurs every year.