Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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226. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 29 June 2022, the number of parents in receipt of remote transport grant at primary, special and post-primary level respectively, in the last available school year for which statistics are available; the corresponding total annual cost of the grant in the school year concerned at primary, special and post primary respectively; the total cost in at primary, special and post-primary in the 2021-2022 school year; the rate that the grant was paid in each of the past three school years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36816/22]

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.

Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, and rules have regard to ethos and language.

An eligible child for whom no transport service is available may, following an application 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 kilometres or more to or from a designated pick up/set down point.

Grants are based on the distance from home to school and the rates range from €1.30 per day to the maximum daily allowance payable of €5.10 per day, per family.

The number of families who received a remote area grant for the 2020/21 school year was 2,821, of that 2,139 were at primary level and 682 at post primary level.

The total remote area grants paid to families for the 2020/21 school year was approximately €800,000.

The purpose of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the scheme children are eligible for transport where they have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability and are attending the nearest recognised mainstream school, special class/special school or unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs.

A Special Transport Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements may be provided in certain circumstances.

The rate of grant payable is calculated at 39.12 cent per kilometre from home to school for the first 6,437 kilometres and 21.22 cent per kilometre thereafter. Payment is based on the number of days that the families provided transport for their children.

Approximately €2.9m was issued to families in receipt of the Special Transport Grant in the 2020/2021 school year.

The total cost of all grants made to families for the 2021/2022 school year is not yet available as these payments are currently being processed.

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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227. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the expected timeframe for changes to the school transport system to be introduced following the review of the system that is currently underway; if she will consider an entitlement to attend the nearest non-denominational school to be of equal importance to an entitlement to attend the nearest minority religion school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36823/22]

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.

As previously outlined to the Deputy, in relation to school transport provision, supports are provided to children with regard to the choice of schools in relation to ethos and language.

At Primary level, eligibility for school transport is to the nearest school, having regard to ethos and language.

At Post Primary level, eligibility for school transport is to the nearest education centre/school, subject to limited exceptions. The scheme has regard to ethos and language in that exceptions to eligibility for the scheme are considered in the case of minority religions and the Irish language. The scheme at Post Primary level provides transport for children of minority religion for whom there is less choice of school given the dispersed nature of these schools and also facilitates the viability of those minority religion schools.

The review of the School Transport Scheme is currently underway and 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.

Wider considerations relating to operation of the scheme are now taking place in the next phase of the review which is currently underway. The Technical Working Group has undertaken extensive consultation over the last number of months; including running a public survey for parents/guardians and students who use the service and those who do not use the service but who would like to. These engagements have yielded extensive data for consideration. The Group has also consulted with a broad array of stakeholders including schools, special education interest groups, industry representatives and other Government Departments.

The Steering Group will continue to report to me on an interim basis as the review progresses.