Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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347. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on a school transport service (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61691/22]

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 they are sourcing a suitable contractor for the routes referred to by the Deputy and are currently undergoing the procurement process. Once a suitable contractor is sourced their Local Office will contact all the families concerned.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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348. 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 their ticket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61703/22]

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 will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Children who apply but who are not eligible for school transport 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 the child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme but did not submit an application for school transport by the closing date of 29 April or complete the ticket registration process by the closing date of 29 July. However, Bus Éireann has further advised that their local office is currently assessing school transport routes and if seats become available, the family referred to by the Deputy will be contacted directly by their local office.