Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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231. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address a school transport matter in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5963/23]

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 as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

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.

The closing date for applications for the 2022/23 school year was Friday 29th April 2022.  Late applicants are not guaranteed a seat and will only be allocated a seat if capacity is available.

Bus Éireann have advised that there is no record of an application received on behalf of the family referred by the Deputy.An application for school transport must be submitted on Bus Éireann’s website in order for their request for transport to be considered.