David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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682.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has requested information from Bus Éireann pertaining the provision of school transport to a primary school (details supplied); if her Department is in receipt of the necessary information; if she will take measures to ensure that students attending this primary school will be facilitated by the sanctioning of school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[35643/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.

Over 140,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 3% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.

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 terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.

A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time (apply on time and pay on time) are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where there is capacity to do so.

Children who are not eligible but who apply for school transport are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places. In these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.

Bus Éireann has advised that in relation to the school referred to by the Deputy, there 5 services in operation for the 2024/25 school year, carrying a total of 228 pupils. Of these 228 pupils, 58 are eligible and 170 are concessionary.

All eligible pupils who applied and paid on time received tickets on board the available services. There were 24 concessionary pupils that paid on time who did not receive tickets on board the services for 2024/25 following the agreed selection process. 2 of that number have since been accommodated after pupils who had originally received tickets cancelled them.

Generally, pupils that are concessionary to this school are attending their 2nd, 3rd or 4th closest school or they reside under the distance guidelines.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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683.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if, given the ongoing issues with school transport for children with additional needs, specifically at a school (details supplied), where approximately 15 out of 20 children are currently without transport due to Bus Éireann's failure to fill the contract, she will outline the measures that will be taken to address this situation.[35644/24]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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684.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will take immediate action to ensure that reliable transport is provided for vulnerable children at a school (details supplied).[35645/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 683 and 684 together.

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.

Over 140,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 3% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.

The National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.

Bus Éireann has reported in recent days that unfortunately, for a small number of families assigned to Special Educational Needs transport services, difficulties have arisen in some localities with a small number of contracted services. These services were secured for the 2024/2025 school year and due to reported driver/contractor unavailability at short notice, services could not commence as expected.

Bus Éireann School Transport team is working intensively to ensure that transport arrangements are put in place as soon as possible. Bus Éireann is engaging with families where transport was sanctioned and where there may be delays in securing a new service. A Special Transport Interim Grant has been offered to families of children with special educational needs who, following the application process, are eligible under the terms of the school transport scheme and were awaiting a School Transport service to be put in place.

This grant is a once off payment. The interim grant is offered from the date of application to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements the family had put in place until a transport service is ready to commence. Further information on the Special Transport Interim Grant can be found at: gov.ie/schooltransport.

Work is continuing in order to resolve this matter and Bus Éireann are committed to providing transport as quickly as is possible.

Bus Éireann has put in place a dedicated customer care call centre to assist families specifically with School Transport queries during the busy summer period. Families that have queries can contact the call centre on: LoCall 0818 919 910. Operating hours are usually 09.00 – 17.00 Monday to Friday.

Families can also contact Bus Éireann by submitting a query via the following link: www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=523