Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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345. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for a delay by her Department in responding to queries relating to school transport by persons (details supplied); if she will clarify the matters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35697/22]

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. The cost in 2021 was over €289m.

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.

With regard to the Deputy's first query i can advise that an application for school transport for children with special educational needs was received for the pupil in question and, on review of the SENO’s report the family were advised the pupil did not meet the criteria for the school transport scheme on the basis submitted. The family were advised if there was any additional relevant information that was not submitted with the original application they should make it available to the school and the school should then consult with the SENO to establish if there are grounds for reviewing the application.

The SENO submitted an updated school transport application form and on consideration of this new application, the pupil was deemed eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme for children with special educational needs. Bus Éireann who operates School Transport on behalf my Department advised there was an existing service operating that could accommodate the pupil and she began availing of this service on 25th April 2022.

In relation to the Deputy's second query I wish to advise the following. 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.

The family referred to by the Deputy resides 7.7 km from home to their school of attendance and closest school. A transport application was received from the family on 25th February 2021 for the 2021/22 school year. As there is no school transport service in the area, the family is eligible for the Remote Area Grant for the school year 2021-22, payment of which is made during the summer months. If the family in question have any queries in this regard they should contact School Transport Section directly who will aim to assist them with their query.