Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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992. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the payment announced for bus operators that provide school transport to assist with rising costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29703/22]

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. In the region of 5,800 vehicles are operated by private contractors under contract to Bus Éireann for the provision of school transport scheme services.

With regard to the increasing price of fuel in recent months, my Department has been liaising with other relevant departments and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on this matter. I am pleased to confirm that a contribution at a total cost of €5.3 million will be provided to address the impact of the increased cost of fuel for Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 of 2022 for contractors operating on the Department’s school transport scheme.

Bus Éireann have advised the Department they are currently making arrangements for processing payments to contractors and they plan to commence payments in the coming weeks.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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993. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will advise on the case of two children (details supplied) regarding a school transport pick-up point; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29715/22]

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 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.

Routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than 3.2 kilometres to travel to a pick-up point. Parents or guardians are expected to make suitable arrangements to bring their children to and from the school bus.

Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes on behalf of my Department. Safety of children travelling on the school transport services is of paramount importance to the Department and to Bus Éireann. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.

Bus Éireann advised this family is eligible for School Transport to their school of attendance. Bus Éireann has also advised a new pick up point is being finalised in the location mentioned by the Deputy for the 2022/23 school year. The family will be contacted with further information when available.