Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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853. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if flexibility with regard to the school transport scheme can be afforded regarding the nearest school rule in certain circumstances (details supplied) particularly for families living in remote or rural areas and in which other alternative transport is not available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19735/22]

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.

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 Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

In general children are eligible for school transport if they meet the distance criteria and are attending their nearest post primary school/post primary centre.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.  

Children who apply for school transport but who are not eligible are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats. 

Bus Éireann has advised that the pupils referred to by the Deputy are attending a school that is not their nearest school and therefore do not meet the eligibility requirements.  Bus Éireann further advised that the pupils were unsuccessful in obtaining concessionary tickets for the current school year as the existing school transport service to their school of attendance is currently operating to capacity.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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854. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if flexibility with regard to the school transport scheme can be afforded regarding the nearest school rule in certain circumstances (details supplied) particularly for families living in remote or rural areas and in which other alternative transport is not available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19736/22]

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.

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 Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

In general children are eligible for school transport if they meet the distance criteria and are attending their nearest post primary school/post primary centre.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.  

Children who apply for school transport but who are not eligible are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats. 

Concessionary seats may be offered subject to a number of conditions including if there is a suitable service, as determined by Bus Éireann, operating into their education centre, if there is spare capacity on the service, the appropriate annual charge is paid and the Medical Card waiver is not applicable.

Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is attending a school that is not their nearest school and therefore does not meet the eligibility requirements.  Bus Éireann further advised there is an existing school transport service currently operating to the child's school of attendance and there are seats available, however, no payment for transport has been received to date for this pupil.