Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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165. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in awarding a remote area grant to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52600/19]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.  In the 2018/2019 school year over 117,500 children, including over 13,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €200m in 2018. 

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 Post-Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by the Department of Education/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.  

Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.  Children who are eligible for school transport but for whom no service is available may be offered the Remote Area Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements.  

 The child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for transport and is also eligible for the remote area grant from the commencement of the 2019/20 school year.  The grant is payable annually following receipt of the pupil’s statement of attendance at the end of the school year. School Transport Section of my Department will be liaising with families in the New Year regarding remote area grant sanctions for the 2019/20 school year.