Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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290. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if details of a family (details supplied) have been forwarded to her Department for consideration for the remote area grant; the steps the family need to take to pursue this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8019/23]

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 €338.9m.

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.

Under the terms of my Department’s School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8kms at post-primary and are attending their nearest 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 complete the application process and ticket registration process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation. Children who are eligible for school transport but where no service exists may be offered the Remote Area Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements. The Remote Area Grant is also payable for eligible children who may have to travel 3.2kms or more to or from a designated pick up/set down point.

The closing date for receipt of applications for the 2022/2023 School Year was 29th April 2022 and the closing date for receipt of ticket registrations was 29th July 2022.

Bus Éireann has advised that the children referred to by the Deputy are eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme in relation to distance, however they did not complete the application process before the closing date. In order for eligibility to be considered for a Remote Area Grant, the application must be submitted prior to 29th April 2022 and a ticket request must be submitted before 29th July 2022. Bus Éireann advise all existing services in this area are currently operating at capacity.