Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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248. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position for the next academic year with respect to the school transport arrangements for persons (details supplied); if he will consider extending the current arrangement until all children are finished in their national school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22189/16]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme a minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.

Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme, has advised there is sufficient number of eligible children availing of the service at present, and does not envisage this service to fall below the minimum numbers for the 2016/17 school year.

School Transport services are reviewed annually and the continued retention of a service is dependent on the number of children who are eligible for school transport.

The terms of the scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.