Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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566. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of the application for the backdating of the remote area grant for persons (details supplied); when a decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37880/22]

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.

Children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

An eligible child for whom no transport service is available may, following an application for transport within the prescribed time limits, receive a Remote Area Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements.

Bus Éireann has advised that the child to whom the Deputy refers is eligible for school transport, however, as no transport service is available they are eligible for a Remote Area Grant. The grant has been processed by officials in School Transport Section of my department and will issue to the family shortly.