Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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123. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding relating to applications for the introduction of new school bus services in suburban areas of Dublin currently without such services will be provided. [38331/16]

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

Currently in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, are being 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.

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. 

Under the terms of my Department's Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 3.2 or 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school or post primary centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

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 establishment of a school transport service, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.  In general, transport services are not established in areas where suitable public scheduled bus services already exist.  In such cases children who are eligible for school transport are facilitated with travel permits for these services.

Families of eligible children, for whom no transport service is available, may be eligible for the remote area grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements.

Families who wish to apply for school transport under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme can do so at www.buseireann.ie.