Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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289. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that have applied for school transport in 2016 and were deemed ineligible as they were not attending their nearest school; the number of pupils that applied for school transport on a concessionary basis and were refused; the number of these that were in receipt of school transport in previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27288/16]

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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303. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children who were refused school transport as a result of late submission of application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27302/16]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 303 together.

Bus Éireann has advised that the detailed information requested is not readily available and will involve a significant amount of administrative time to compile. 

In this regard, Bus Éireann has been requested to respond directly to the Deputy.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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290. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused school transport; if he will include this case in the review of the school transport scheme; if there are any arrangements that could be made to provide the person with school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27289/16]

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 100 million kilometres annually.

As the Deputy is aware, under the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for

transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability.

Applications for transport provision, under the terms of this scheme, should only be completed in circumstances where children are not in a position to avail of standard school transport services.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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291. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused school transport; if he will include this case in the review of the school transport scheme; if there are any arrangements that could be made to provide the person with school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27290/16]

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 100 million kilometres annually.

As the Deputy is aware, under the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for

transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability.

Applications for transport provision, under the terms of this scheme, should only be completed in circumstances where children are not in a position to avail of standard school transport services.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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292. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the situation whereby students (details supplied) are refused school transport, when the route to the nearest school is considered unsafe for travel in poor weather conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27291/16]

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 100 million kilometres annually.

Safety of children travelling on the school transport service is of paramount importance to my Department and to Bus Éireann. Bus Éireann place special emphasis on safety and, to this end, have a wide range of checking procedures in place to ensure that a safe and reliable service is provided.

Distance eligibility is determined by Bus Éireann by measuring the shortest traversable route from a child's home to the relevant education centre; may be either a pedestrian or vehicular route, and it is not necessarily the route that the school bus takes.

Bus Éireann has advised that children from the area referred to by the Deputy are not attending their nearest post primary school and are therefore not eligible for school transport.

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

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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293. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason children on the school bus (details supplied) have been refused school transport and the number of children involved; the date upon which the families received notification that the children would no longer receive school transport; the arrangements which can be made to ensure the children involved can receive transport to school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27292/16]

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 annually throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres.

Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

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

Seats for concessionary applicants are allocated after all eligible children have been accommodated on school transport services. This exercise normally takes place after the closing date for receipt of payments.  Where seats are limited a random selection process is used.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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294. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused school transport; if he will include this case in the review of the school transport scheme; the arrangements which could be made to provide the child with school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27293/16]

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 100 million kilometres annually.

The child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme.

The closing date for receipt of payments for school transport was 29^thJuly 2016.  Bus Éireann has advised that payment details for this child were submitted after the deadline date and at that time the service was operating to capacity.

They also advise that a ticket for this service has since been returned making a seat available.  Bus Éireann have advised that they are now in the process of issuing a ticket for the child referred to.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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295. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if accommodation can be made to allow for a person (details supplied) to be collected from their home for the purposes of school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27294/16]

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 annually throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres.

Bus Éireann has advised that the route of this service for the 2016/17 school year has been reviewed in the reorganisation of services and the child in question is being accommodated with a home collection.