Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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411. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the request by persons (details supplied) for school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46776/17]

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.

Given the concerns regarding the welfare of children with special educational needs, it is not always practical to make these services available to children who are capable of travelling on standard mainstream school transport services, as to do so might diminish the level of care and safety that the Department and Bus Éireann wish to provide for these vulnerable children.

My Department is awaiting further information from Bus Éireann in relation to the request referred to and will contact the parent directly when the matter has been considered.

Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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412. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) under the school transport scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46813/17]

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 Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

The child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport however the family was late in making their payment. As the service was operating to capacity at the time of payment no additional tickets can be issued. 

Children for whom late payments are received cannot be guaranteed a seat on a school transport service.

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

Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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413. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) under the school transport scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46814/17]

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 Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

The child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport however the family was late in making their payment. As the service was operating to capacity at the time of payment no additional tickets can be issued. 

Children for whom late payments are received cannot be guaranteed a seat on a school transport service.

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