Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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244. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on an application by a school (details supplied) for a school bus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52512/22]

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. 

I am pleased to advise that the pupils referred to by the Deputy are eligible under the terms of the scheme and a sanction has been sent by the School Transport Section of my Department to Bus Éireann for the establishment of a new service for pupils to the school referred to by the Deputy. 

Bus Éireann have tendered this service in line with procurement guidelines and are in the process of allocating a contractor to operate this service. Once a contractor has been sourced, the service will commence.? Bus Éireann will liaise with the families directly with regard to this matter at that stage.  

Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs. Families of children who are eligible for these services, but who experience a delay with accessing them, may therefore apply for the Special Transport Grant. This is a once off payment, paid retrospectively to families to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements the family had put in place until services are finalised. Families should contact the Department’s School Transport Section at: school_transport@education.gov.ie for more information on this grant.