Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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163. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that have been refused school bus tickets in 2020; the number of appeals submitted against decisions to refuse school bus tickets; the number of appeals finalised; the number of successful appeals; the length of time it is taking to decide on appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22964/20]

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. 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 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.

The closing date for payment for the 2020/2021 school year was Tuesday 4th August 2020. All children who are eligible for school transport and who applied and paid by the deadline have been accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

In the 2019/20 school year 3,100 pupils who, due to either being eligible but not having paid on time or due to being concessionary and not getting a seat in the allocation process, were unsuccessful in obtaining a school bus ticket.

Decisions made by, or on behalf of, the Department of Education and Skills regarding the provision of school transport services and/or grant-aid under the terms of the School Transport Schemes may be appealed to the School Transport Appeals Board.

When received, the Board will liaise directly with the family regarding the appeal date and their subsequent deliberations.

To date in 2020 the School Transport Appeals Board has received 437 appeals. Of this number, one appeal was allowed and a total of 195 appeals were either disallowed or were resolved between being submitted and being heard by the Board. There are 230 appeals whereby additional information has been sought by School Transport Section from Bus Éireann and once this information is received these appeals will be referred to the Board. There are 6 appeals that have been received in recent days and a further 5 that have been submitted to the Board for their next meeting which is due to be held on the 17th September 2020.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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164. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take to overhaul the school transport scheme, which fails hundreds of students annually; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22965/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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 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 October 2019, the then Minister announced a review of the school transport scheme with a view to ensuring funds are being spent in the most effective way to meet the objectives of the scheme. Terms of reference and the scope of the review have been drafted and a Steering Group has been established.

It was proposed that the review would, in the first instance, look at existing analysis and the short term options available to the Department in terms of the scheme and its implementation in September 2020 with a view to preparing an initial report by the second quarter of 2020. This was to be followed by a deeper examination of the current model of services and its component strands with a view to putting forward options for the future operation of an integrated and sustainable scheme.

Given the current evolving situation with Covid-19 and the continued restrictions the work of the Steering Group has been delayed. It is intended to convene the Steering Group shortly and to agree and supplement revised terms of reference to reflect the Programme for Government.

The Review will build on the proposals in the Programme for Government, which sets out the following objectives:

- Accelerate sustainable transport plans for schools. We will complete the review of the School Transport Scheme to seek better outcomes and reduce car journeys. The School Transport Scheme should work in liaison with the Safe Routes to Schools Programme.

- We will conduct a comprehensive review of the School Transport Scheme, identifying recommendations for the scheme to provide better value and a better service for students, including those with special educational needs, and examining issues such as the nearest or next-nearest school.