Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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252. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding is available through her Department to assist a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary to upgrade its transport facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46943/22]

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

The purpose of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from the nearest school to meet the requirements of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability.

While the scheme provides transport for students to travel and from school, funding for schools to upgrade private transport does not fall within the remit of the School Transport Scheme in my Department.