1331. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which school transport routes are designed; if parents are consulted on route design; if the design process is computerised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62645/26]

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.

The scheme is made up of three separate schemes, the school transport scheme for primary, post primary and for children with special educational needs.

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 eligible for school transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre, as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.

Where practicable, and subject to considerations of cost and logistics, routes are planned to avoid an eligible Post Primary child having to travel more than 3.2 kms to or from a pickup/set down point or to have travel and waiting times in excess of 2.5 hours per day. For an eligible Primary child routes are planned to avoid a child having to travel more than 2.4 kms to or from a pickup/set down point or to have travel and waiting times in excess of 1.5 hours per day.

Routes are planned based on the locations of children who are eligible for school transport only.

Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring that children are brought safely to and collected safely from Bus Éireann designated pickup and set down points.