Michael Harty (Clare, Independent)
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70. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 627 of 18 October 2016, if he will extend the existing Dangan-Clooney bus service in County Clare by 2 km to Quin village (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32240/16]

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 2016/17 school year in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.

Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes on behalf of my Department. Routes are planned based on the locations of children who are eligible for school transport.

I understand that the children in question are not eligible for school transport as they are not attending their nearest post primary centre. Children who are not eligible for school transport may avail of school transport on a concessionary basis only subject to a number of terms and conditions including that there are spare seats available on an existing school bus service and on payment of the annual charge. Routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis.

The terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.