Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

419. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will intervene in an urgent school transport case for a child (details supplied). [53522/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.

In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the coming school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.

Ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.

In general, children are eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria (3.2km at primary level and 4.8km at post-primary level), are attending their nearest school having regard to ethos and language.

Under the terms of the Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for transport where they are attending the nearest recognised school that is or can be resourced to meet their special educational needs.

Applications for children resident in accommodation provided for people seeking International Protection, who wish to avail of school transport must be made to Bus Éireann. Applications are made by the Manager of the Accommodation Centre together with the relevant local Bus Éireann office.

The general terms of the Primary/Post Primary School Transport Scheme will apply however;

1.The distance eligibility criteria of 3.2 kilometres (Primary) or 4.8 kilometres (Post Primary) will be waived

2. Children who are attending their nearest school, having regard to ethos and language, in which a placement was found at the time of their first enrolment will be eligible for school transport.

Furthermore, the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, also applies.

All school transport arrangements outside the terms of this provision are matters for the management of the individual centre.

Bus Eireann have advised that no application for transport has been received for the pupil referred to by the Deputy to the school referred for the 2022/23 school year.