Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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413. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school bus service route (details supplied) in County Clare which was cancelled without notice will be reinstated as a matter of urgency given that it affects approximately 50 students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53458/22]

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.

Bus Éireann has advised that due to unforeseen circumstances, the route mentioned by the Deputy was unable to operate for a number of days. I am pleased to advise that Bus Éireann have sourced an alternative contractor to operate this route. The service has resumed operation on the 24th of October 2022 and all families were notified prior to the resumption of the service.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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414. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will consider a review of the secondary school transport route in the area from Coralstown, County Westmeath serving a school (details supplied) to take account of significant additional homes which now qualify for the school transport scheme, but that are a considerable distance from the nearest pick-up point; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53476/22]

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.

A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.

All school transport services are reviewed over the summer months. Arising from this review, routes may be altered, extended or withdrawn depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.

Bus Eireann has advised that generally pupil(s) residing in the area referred to by the Deputy and attending the school referred are not eligible for transport as they reside nearer to an existing school. There is currently no mainstream school transport service available from the area referred to the school referred.