Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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236. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the cost of a school bus ticket for a child (details supplied) can be covered by their medical card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44366/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/21 school year there were over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, were 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 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 school transport where they reside not less than 4.8kms from and are attending their nearest Post Primary School/Education Centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Bus Éireann has confirmed that the child to whom the Deputy refers is not eligible for school transport as he is not attending his nearest post primary school.

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. Concessionary transport is 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.