Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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238. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of concessionary places available with existing transport providers under the school transport scheme for children in County Louth for the 2017-2018 school year; and if he has satisfied himself that the places available are sufficient to met demand. [39381/17]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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240. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications for the school transport scheme which were received in County Louth for the 2017-2018 school year; the number of applications deemed successful in meeting the criteria for a place in the scheme; the number awarded concessionary places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39385/17]

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 almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 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.

Under the terms of my Department's mainstream School Transport Schemes children are generally eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria and are attending their nearest school. All eligible children are being accommodated with school transport provision.

Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only which is subject to number of conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service. Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes 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 School Transport Schemes are applied equitably on a national basis.

Bus Éireann are compiling the figures requested and they will forward them directly to the Deputy when they are finalised.