Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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118. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if flexibility is shown in relation to late applications for the remote area grant under any circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53559/21]

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, 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.

All children who are eligible and who completed the application and payment process on time for the 2021/22 school year are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Schemes children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 3.2kms at primary and 4.8 kms at post-primary from and are attending their nearest school/education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

An eligible child 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.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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119. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider allowing a late application (details supplied) for the remote area grant to be allowable given the exceptional circumstances in which the applicant is experiencing financial hardship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53560/21]

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, 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 my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

An eligible child for whom no transport service is available may, following an application and payment for transport within prescribed time limits, receive a Remote Area Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements. This grant is also payable for eligible children who may have to travel 3.2 kms or more to or from a designated pick up/set down point.

Bus Éireann has advised that this family applied for transport for the 2020/21 school year on 14th January 2021. This is considered a late application for the 2020/21 school year. The family is eligible for a remote area grant from the commencement of the 2021/22 school year and this will be paid to the family in respect of the 2021/22 school year. For families who are eligible for a remote area grant for the 2021/22 school year the Department will contact families directly regarding the Remote Area Grant by the end of that school year.