Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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760. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 48 of 7 December 2022, the basis of the decision to deem two pupils (details supplied) as ineligible for school transport due to their location of residence.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1340/23]

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.

Bus Éireann has advised that this family referred to by the Deputy are not eligible for school transport under the terms of the school transport scheme.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, under the terms of the scheme, may apply to Bus Éireann for transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of conditions, including, if there is a suitable service, as determined by Bus Éireann, operating into their school of attendance, if there is spare capacity on the service, routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis

Bus Éireann outline the closest Bus Éireann designated pick up point is 5.4 km from where the family reside and this is the only service on this route.

I am pleased to advise that the children referred were issued concessionary tickets on board the closest pickup point and the closest school transport service for the 2022/23 school year.