Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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541. 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [18955/20]

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

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 eligible for school transport and who complete the application and payment process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

A child who is eligible for school transport but for whom no transport service is available may, following an application for transport within prescribed time limits, receive a Remote Area Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements.

The prescribed time limit for the receipt of applications for school transport for the 2019/20 school year was Friday 26^thApril 2019. Bus Éireann has advised that the family referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for school transport on the 29^thMay 2019.

Bus Éireann has also advised that the child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport to the school referred in this case and if there is no change in the current circumstances the family may claim the Remote Area Grant from the beginning of the 2020/21 school year.

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

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 2019/20 school 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.

The option to make payment for transport for the 2020/2021 school year is now available with a closing date for payment on the 31^stJuly 2020. Parents also have the option of spreading the amount due over two payments payable in July and December. Families wishing to avail of transport for the 2020/2021 year are advised to make payment by this date. There are no plans to extend the deadline date of 31^stJuly 2020.