Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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328. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of submissions that were received on the public consultation on school transport by county in tabular form. [12579/22]

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 121,400 children, including over 15,500 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 €289m in 2021. 

As the Deputy is aware, my Department commenced a review of the School Transport Scheme in February 2021. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme and how it currently operates, its broader effectiveness and sustainability and that it adequately supports the provision of services to students and their families.

The review encompasses the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs and the Primary and Post-Primary School Transport Schemes in terms of how each element of the schemes currently operate, to include eligibility criteria, trends, costs and cost drivers, and overall effectiveness in meeting the objectives of the schemes.  The review will also examine the potential for integration of different strands of the scheme and a more co-ordinated approach with other Government Departments that also use transport services.

The information required by the Deputy is not available in the format requested, however,  I can advise that following my announcement of the commencement of the stakeholder consultation process on 20th January 2022.  Letters issued to a number of stakeholders including school management bodies, parent representative organisations, special education interest groups, EU member states, and school principals.  Parents/guardians and Post Primary students were invited to complete online surveys. 

Work is continuing with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to progress the survey and focus groups for children in primary schools and children with special educational needs.

A series of bilateral meetings have been held with relevant Government Departments, agencies/bodies and organisations to discuss the review and to seek their views.

The following surveys and submissions have been received in my department to date and work is underway to assess and report on survey results and submissions received.