1184. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider an issue regarding the provision of a school bus in County Kildare (details supplied). [61015/26]

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

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.

Under the current terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for 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.

Where a child is eligible for transport and the application and payment process has been completed on time, they will get a seat on a school bus service, where a service is available.

Where an applicant is not eligible for school transport, but the application and payment process is completed on time, they will be considered for any spare seats available after eligible applicants have been accommodated.

Bus Éireann has advised that, generally, the pupils from the area outlined by the Deputy are not eligible for school transport to the school in question as it is their third closest Post Primary Centre.

In cases where families have applied to attend their nearest school with regard to ethos and language and have been advised by the school authorities that these schools are full, the Department will consider if the pupil(s) is eligible to the next nearest school.

While the closest school(s) may be full to capacity at present, each family must supply the documents mentioned below, to School Transport Section of the Department of Education and Youth:

an application for enrolment was made within the deadline dates specified by the school(s), and

a letter from each of the school authorities confirming that the school was full.

This information should be submitted for consideration to School Transport Section of the Department through the Case Management System which can be accessed by following this link: cs.education.gov.ie