Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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369. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11032/23]

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.

Bus Éireann has confirmed the pupils to whom the Deputy refer are eligible for school transport as they are attending their nearest post primary centre.

An application for school transport was received for all pupils on 25th August 2022 for the 2022/23 school year and tickets were issued to the pupils on 13th September 2022, within the guidelines of the school transport scheme.