Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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123. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) is eligible for the school transport scheme for the remainder of the junior cycle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23422/17]

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

Currently almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 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 this Scheme 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 change of family address means that the child, referred to by the Deputy, is no longer attending his nearest Post Primary School and is therefore not eligible for school transport.

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

The family should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office in Waterford if they wish to get more information on the availability of transport on a concessionary basis, phone number 051- 873401.