Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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87. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on a remote area grant for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15136/22]

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 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.

Under the terms of the 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 school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Families who wish to avail of school transport and have their eligibility status assessed should apply on-line in a timely manner to Bus Éireann on Bus Éireann’s website at www.buseireann.ie.

Bus Éireann has advised that they have not received an application for the pupil referred to by the Deputy.

The closing date for school transport applications for the 2022/23 School Year is 29th April 2022 and the closing date for payment is 29th July 2022.

While families can still make an application once the closing date has passed, this will not guarantee a seat on a school transport service. Consideration for a remote area grant for the 2022/23 school year cannot be given once the closing date has passed.

Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department, will contact all applicants regarding their eligibility for school transport:

- Following a timely application and payment process where there is a transport service available for eligible children, Bus Éireann will continue to liaise with eligible families regarding invoicing, payments, ticketing etc.

- Following a timely application and payment process where there is no transport service available for eligible children, Bus Éireann will contact the Department, which will then consult families directly regarding consideration for a Remote Area Grant.