Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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325. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the Gortagarry, County Tipperary school bus route will go to tender again; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34297/21]

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 current school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.

Bus Éireann plans and manages the countrywide network on behalf of the Department to ensure that services are provided in line with the specific requirements of the Department.

Bus Éireann carries out tender competitions on a regular basis for the award of contracts for the provision of school transport services under the School Transport Scheme in accordance with procurement legislation. Bus Éireann confirms there is a 33 seater service which serves Gurtagarry National School. This service is within an existing five year contract and this contract not due to go to tender for the coming school year.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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326. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 318 of 20 October 2020, if payment will be ensured and issued as soon as possible for the person (details supplied). [34316/21]

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 current school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.

The purpose of the 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 child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs. Bus Éireann has confirmed that transport commenced for this pupil on the 23 October 2018 for the 2018/19 school year.

It was previously agreed that the Department would provide a Special Transport Grant to the family towards the cost of making private transport arrangements from September 2018 until the commencement of the school transport service on 23 October 2018. This payment has now been processed and the monies will be transferred to the family within the next week.