Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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255. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the engagement that she has had with other Departments on the matter of school transport since June 2022; and if she will publish any correspondence shared on same. [43366/22]

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 last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were 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.

In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the 2022/2023 school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.

School Transport ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.

In the normal course of Dáil business I engage with other Ministers on a regular basis on a wide range of issues. I also receive representations from Ministerial colleagues in relation to a wide range of issues, including school transport matters.

With regard to the waiving of school transport fees for the 2022/2023 school year, on 26^thJuly 2022 I submitted a memo to Cabinet asking Government to agree to the following:

- In light of the increasing cost of living and with a view to easing the financial burden on families, that as part of a set of initiatives to assist families with Back to School costs,students availing of the school transport scheme will not be charged fees for the academic year 2022/23. This is a temporary measure for the current year only.

- Pending completion of the outcome of the full review of the School Transport Scheme, that Temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level be continued for the 2022/2023 school year.

On 27th July 2022 a Government Decision issued, agreeing to these proposals.