Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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51. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) who has applied for a bus ticket for transport to school will receive a ticket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61107/22]

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.   

Under the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. 

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 the child referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for school transport as they do not meet the distance criteria as set out in the post primary school transport scheme. 

Bus Éireann further advised that the child referred submitted an application after the closing date of 29 April for 2022/23 school year and was unsuccessful in obtaining a concessionary seat for the 2022/23 school year.