Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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204. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will directly intervene in the cases of two school transport routes (details supplied) where children are left without a means to get the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53959/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my 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.

Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes on behalf of my Department. Safety of children travelling on the school transport services is of paramount importance to the Department and to Bus Éireann. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.

I am happy to advise that the first route referred to by the Deputy has recommenced service and the second route is due to recommence service on the 7th of November 2022. Bus Eireann has advised that parents have been notified regarding the resumption of the services.