Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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110. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a refund will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53760/22]

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.

As the Deputy is aware, initiatives were announced earlier this year to assist families with back to school costs.

In recognition that this is an expensive time of year for families, measures worth over €17m were put in place to ensure free school transport for families availing of the school transport scheme in the 2022/2023 school year.

Bus Éireann are/have processed a full refund to families who have already made payments for the new school year.

Bus Éireann has confirmed that a refund to the family referred to by the Deputy was processed in August 2022.