Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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260. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has been in contact with the Department of Transport in regard to school bus transport; and if so, if a decision has been made to put on additional capacity to ensure that all children who require a seat on a bus will get one. [46556/22]

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.

The normal eligibility criteria of the scheme still apply and tickets continue to be allocated in line with this criteria. Pupils at primary level are eligible where they live no less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest primary school. At post primary level, students who live no less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre are deemed eligible.

Any pupils/students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.

In line with normal practice, all eligible children who completed the application and ticket registration process on time for the 2022/2023 school year will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

In addition, pending completion of the outcome of the full review of the School Transport Scheme, Temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level will be continued for the 2022/2023 school year. Under these measures, which were initially introduced in 2019, transport will provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied by the 29^thApril and registered for a ticket by the 29^thJuly.

Officials in my Department engage with colleagues in other Departments including the Department of Transport on a regular basis on a wide range of issues including school transport.

Already over 124,000 tickets for the 2022/2023 school year have been issued to applicants which is a substantial increase on children using mainstream school transport services last year.

Bus Éireann will continue to process applications and to issue tickets as soon as extra buses and drivers are sourced and become available to provide transport for the higher numbers qualifying for the service.

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 .