Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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745. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 458 of 18 October 2022, if she will provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1162/23]

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 of Education.  In the current school year over 147,900 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 3,800 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine. 

The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €332.2m. 

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 is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes on behalf of my Department.  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.

Routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than 3.2 kilometres to travel to a pick-up point. Children are generally expected to make their own way, or to be brought to convenient pick-up points along the main route.

Bus Éireann has confirmed that pupils residing in the Derryleagh and Coomyanna areas and are attending Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine, Kenmare are eligible for transport.

The nearest service pickup point to a school transport service operates from the North Square, Sneem, which is approximately 7.0 km to 8.0 km from the areas referred.  

Bus Éireann has advised that the local office is currently in the process of establishing an extension to an existing service to cater for the pupils referred to by the Deputy.  When this service is established and a start date is available, Bus Éireann will contact the families directly with details.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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746. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1167/23]

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 of Education.  In the current school year over 147,900 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 3,800 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine. 

The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €332.2m. 

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.

The National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) acts in an advisory role to my Department on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs.

Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).

I am pleased to advise that the child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs.

As an escort could not be sourced on board a school transport service, a Special Transport Grant has been sanctioned from the the commencement of the 2021/2022 school year.  School Transport Section of my Department have written to the family in this regard.