Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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157. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to extending the medical card waiver to each student eligible for concessionary school transport in view of the fact that many families are on reduced incomes as a result of the Covid-19 crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17562/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

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.

In the 2019/2020 year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 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 €219m in 2019.

Children who are not eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme may apply to Bus Éireann for transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of conditions including the appropriate annual charge is paid. The Medical Card waiver is not applicable to children who are not eligible for school transport. There are no plans to waiver the fee for concessionary children who are medical card holders.