Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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431. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware of the distress the nearest school rule is causing to families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25392/16]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

During the 2015/16 school year in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in approximately 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country, covering over a hundred million kilometres annually.

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.

In general, children are eligible for school transport if they meet the distance criterion and are attending their nearest school.

While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, it makes sense that eligibility for school transport is to the nearest school or education centre.

The terms of the School Transport Schemes are applied equitably on a national basis and I am satisfied with the current criteria for determining eligibility.