Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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800. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the school transport division will provide school transport and tickets for students (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2113/23]

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, were 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 School Transport Scheme in 2022 amounted to €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 acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.

Bus Éireann has advised that the pupils referred to by the Deputy are eligible under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs and Bus Éireann are in the process of arranging transport for the pupils concerned and will liaise directly with the family.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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801. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the school transport division will provide school transport and tickets for students (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2115/23]

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. 

In general, children are eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria (3.2km at primary level and 4.8km at post-primary level) and are attending their nearest school having regard to ethos and language.

Applications for children resident in Direct Provision, who wish to avail of school transport must be made to Bus Éireann.  Applications are made on behalf of these students by TUSLA to the relevant local Bus Éireann office.

The general terms of the Primary/Post Primary School Transport Scheme will apply however;

1. The distance eligibility criteria of 3.2 kilometres (Primary) or 4.8 kilometres (Post Primary) will be waived 

2. Children who are attending their nearest school, having regard to ethos and language, in which a placement was found at the time of their first enrolment will be eligible for school transport.

School Transport Section have recently been made aware of these students and Bus Éireann have been informed.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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802. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that school transport has not commenced for a pupil (details supplied) in County Mayo who has severe additional physical needs, in view of the fact that the application for individual school transport was submitted on 1 September 2022 and the extreme hardship that the lack of school transport is causing to this pupil and their family; when school transport will commence for this pupil; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2164/23]

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 and that that School Transport Section of my Department have advised Bus Éireann that an individual service is to be established for the pupil to whom the Deputy refers.  Bus Éireann will liaise directly with the family regarding the service.