Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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402. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a bus route was changed (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48497/22]

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, are 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 confirmed that the pupil to which the Deputy refers is not eligible for transport as they are attending their third nearest primary school. In the 2021/22 school year, the service was passing by this pupil’s home and the pupil was collected on an incidental basis only.

In August, 2022, a concessionary ticket issued to the pupil for the 2022/23 School year. The service has been adjusted for the 2022/23 School year as there were eligible applicants that required pick up from the route. Bus Éireann has also confirmed that this pupil resides 0.4 km from their morning pickup point and 0.6 km from their afternoon drop off location which is in line with the terms of the school transport scheme. There will be no further adjustments to the route at this time.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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403. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school transport ticket will be allocated to a student (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48587/22]

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.

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.

Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy in this case is eligible for transport as they are attending their nearest school.

An application for transport was first received for this pupil on 06/05/2021 for the 2021/22 school year and was carried forward to the 2022/23 school year.However, no ticket request was received for this pupil by the deadline of 29/07/2022.

The existing school transport service is currently operating to capacity and there are no seats available at present.