Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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420. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the recent review of the school transport scheme will lead to families in the Urris area of Inishowen, County Donegal, having their right to school transport to a school (details supplied) to be restored considering that the shortest traversable route measured by Bus Éireann is over the Mamore Gap, which is an unsuitable route for a school bus travelling in the winter or in poor weather conditions. [1383/17]

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

Currently over 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, are being 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.

Children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

The review of the concessionary charges and rules element of the School Transport Scheme which has been completed does not change the criteria for determining eligibility for school transport.