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.

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

Bus Éireann has advised that the child referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme. An application was submitted after the closing date of 29 April and no ticket request has been received.

Any application completed after the closing date is a ‘late application’and therefore, many school transport services are already operating at full capacity.Late applications will only be assessed after all “on time” applications have been processed and there can be no guarantee of places for late applicants.

Bus Éireann are currently assessing late applications and the availability of seats on the route in the area mentioned by the Deputy.

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 not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be 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.

Temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level will be continued for the 2022/2023 school year pending completion of the review of the School Transport Scheme. This will mean that transport arrangements will continue to be provided for a number of post-primary students who are attending their second nearest school, who have applied and registered on time and who live more than 4.8km from their nearest school.

Bus Éireann has advised that the child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme but was unsuccessful in obtaining a seat on board a school transport service for the 2022/23 school year as they did not complete the ticket registration process by the closing date of 29 July 2022. All existing services in this area are currently operating at capacity.

Any application completed after this date is a ‘late application’ and therefore, many school transport services are already operating at full capacity.Late applications will only be assessed after all “on time” applications have been processed and there can be no guarantee of places for late applicants.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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397. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children in County Tipperary that have qualified under the school transport scheme for children with special educational needs; the number of those children that have yet to be provided with transport; and the number of those applicants that have received the special transport grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53278/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current 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 Department is very conscious of the specialised nature of transport provision for children with special educational needs and this is reflected in the approach that is taken in the provision of transport services.

The National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.

Applications for SEN transport are received on a year-round basis.Where a new service is sanctioned, this means a procurement / vetting process is required while in many instances the school is also sanctioned to employ a transport escort, and this necessarily takes time to put in place. By accepting applications year-round, the Department can ensure that children with special educational needs receive the transport they require.

To ensure the efficient delivery of services for children on Special Educations Needs school transport, Bus Éireann assesses each application to assess the options available. Where children can be facilitated on an existing service, applications are processed immediately, and arrangements put in place with families involved.

Where a new service has to be established there is a lead in period for this process that includes issues such as:

- route design and procurement including contract award.

- in many instances a School Bus Escort is required for the child’s safe transport to school and it can take time for the school to source a suitable person which can impact the start date.

In certain circumstances, an application for a Special Transport Grant can be made by the family to assist with the cost of providing private transport. This grant is paid retrospectively once the child has commenced on the service.

The table below details the number of new SEN applications received for the 2022/23 School year in county Tipperary to date:

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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398. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the special transport grant that has yet been provided to a person (details supplied); the length of time his Department anticipate that this person will have to wait for the SEN transport service to begin operating; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53279/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current 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 National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.

I am pleased to advise that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is eligible under the terms of the scheme and sanction has been given for the service. Bus Éireann have advised they are currently arranging transport for this pupil and Bus Éireann will liaise with the family directly with regard to this matter.

Both my 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 may therefore apply for the Special Transport Grant which is a once off payment, paid retrospectively to families once the School Transport service is in place and is to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements the family had put in place until services are finalised. Families should contact School Transport Section at: school_transport@education.gov.ie for more information on this grant.