Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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261. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when persons (details supplied) will be facilitated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45802/21]

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 2020/2021 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.

All children who are eligible for school transport and who completed the application and payment process on time for the 2021/22 school year will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation. In addition all post-primary pupils who are otherwise eligible for school transport but are attending their second nearest school and who have applied and paid on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation. This arrangement is in place for current school year pending completion of the full review of the School Transport Scheme.

Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only and are offered seats where capacity exists after all eligible children have been catered for. Late applicants and/or families who pay late are not guaranteed a seat and will only be allocated a seat if capacity is available once seats are allocated to those families who applied and paid on time for transport services for the 2021/2022 school year.

Bus Eireann has confirmed that the children to whom the Deputy refers are eligible for School Transport. Medical card details for School Transport for the 2021/22 school year were received on 13/07/2021 and then on 10/09/2021, as a result tickets were not initially released as the payment process was not fully completed on time.

Bus Éireann has confirmed that tickets have now been released for the 2021/22 school year.