Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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215. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); if his Department will sanction the necessary funds for an increase in vehicle size that would allow Bus Éireann to facilitate the additional concessionary pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49059/17]

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 113,000 children, including almost 11,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 4,500 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.

Under the terms the Post Primary School Transport 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.

Bus Éireann has advised that the child in question is not eligible for school transport as he is not attending his nearest post primary school.

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