Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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213. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school bus for a school (details supplied) will be retained; if the situation will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29551/18]

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 116,000 children, including over 12,000 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 at a total cost of almost €190 million in 2017.

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.

Children are generally eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria and are attending their nearest school having regard to language and ethos.

Bus Éireann are currently processing applications for school transport services for the 2018/19 school year.

Families should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office regarding the operation of services and the availability of seats on these services.