Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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174. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure a school transport ticket is allocated to a pupil (details supplied). [47388/22]

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.

Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. In addition,

Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using a random selection process.

Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil to which the Deputy refers resides 1.4 km from their nearest school and school of attendance and does not meet the distance criteria as set out in the Primary School Transport Scheme.

A ticket request was received for this pupil before the closing date.  Bus Eireann have further advised that a seat is available on an existing service and this pupil will be issued with a ticket shortly.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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175. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if approval has been given for a driver escort for a child (details supplied). [47389/22]

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. 

Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for transport where they are attending the nearest recognised school that is or can be resourced to meet their special educational needs.

The National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) acts in an advisory role to my Department on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs.

In relation to the pupil referred to by the Deputy, School Transport Section have sanctioned the establishment of a new transport service to cater for this pupil and one other with Bus Éireann. School Transport Section have also sanctioned funding for an escort on-board this service to the School Principal. I am pleased to advise that an escort has been appointed and the pupil can commence on the service on 28th September.