Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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345. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if all-Irish secondary schools in Gaeltacht areas are treated differently than Gaelcholáistí when it comes to the school transport schemes in terms of recognition, eligibility, catchment areas and language rights; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6907/23]

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.

Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

For the purposes of school transport provision, language relates to the Irish or English language. In practice this means that children who choose to attend their nearest all-Irish school/unit may be eligible for school transport to that school/unit, even if it is not their nearest school, children who choose to attend their nearest all-English school/unit may be eligible for school transport to that school/unit, even if it is not their nearest school.

A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services.

Families who wish to avail of school transport and have their eligibility status assessed should apply before the closing date to Bus Éireann on their website at www.buseireann.ie

The closing date for school transport applications for the 2022/23 School Year was Friday, 29th April 2022

Families could still apply for school transport following this date, but if applications are late, a place on a service is not be guaranteed as many local services may be already operating to capacity.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time are now all accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Temporary alleviation measures were continued for the current 2022/23 school year, pending completion of the School Transport Review. This means that transport will be provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied by the 29^thApril 2022 and registered for a ticket by the 29^thJuly 2022.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.

Families can contact officials in School Transport Section directly at: school_transport@education.gov.ie if they have any specific queries.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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346. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 665 of 18 January 2022, when the family will receive the grant (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6915/23]

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 the 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 confirm that this pupil has been deemed eligible for the School Transport Scheme.

A Special Transport Grant was offered to the family referred to by the Deputy for the period the pupil did not use a School Transport Service.

On 8th February, 2023, School Transport Section contacted the family directly providing a further update in respect of payment of the Special Transport Grant.

School Transport Section in my Department have processed the application and a payment will issue to the family in the coming days.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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350. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications received for the academic year for transport for children with additional needs; and the number that have been processed, by county, in tabular form. [6990/23]

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 4,200 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

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

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.

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

Bus Éireann have advised that the number of application for transport under the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs for the 2022/23 school year is as follows:

Applications for SEN transport are received on a year round basis.Where a new service is sanctioned, this means a procurement / vetting process is required, while in many instances the school is also sanctioned to employ a transport escort.

These applications also include applications where the family are in receipt of a special transport grant, applications that have been closed, approved, sanctioned and awaiting transport.