Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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461. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will respond to a query on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51660/22]

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 Deputy has been requested to provide further information in order to provide an informative response on the matter raised. Once received, I will ask Bus Éireann to provide a report and a response will issue directly.