Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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312. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider an application for school transport for a person (details supplied) in Louth in view of the unique circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45469/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. 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.

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

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.

Bus Éireann has advised the pupil to which the Deputy refers is eligible for transport as they are attending their nearest school. There is a seat available on an existing service.

A ticket request was received for the pupil on 04/08/2022 and a ticket was released to the pupil on 15/09/2022 and will arrive at their home address in the coming days.