Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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256. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the case of children (details supplied) who have no school transport will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61542/22]

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. 

Under the terms of my Department’s School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2kms at primary as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.  

Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Bus Éireann has advised that the family referred to by the Deputy are eligible for school transport, however there is no service available from where these pupils reside to the schools they are attending. 

Children who are eligible for school transport but for whom no service is available may be offered the Remote Area Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements. The Remote Area Grant is also payable for eligible children who may have to travel 3.2kms or more to or from a designated pick up/set down point.

The family referred to by the Deputy are eligible for a remote area grant from the commencement of 2018/2019 school year and correspondence issued to the family in this regard.  Grants are paid at the end of the school year, and School Transport Section of my Department will liaise with the family directly.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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257. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills , further to Parliamentary Question No. 602 of 8 November 2022, when school transport will be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61559/22]

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. 

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 have been 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 an application has been received for the child referred to by the Deputy however, the ticket registration process has not been completed by the family. Bus Éireann will contact the family directly in relation to the application process.