Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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144. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she agrees it to be unacceptable for a submission to the Schools Transport Appeals Board to take 17 months to be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11953/23]

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.

Decisions made by, or on behalf of, the Department of Education regarding the provision of school transport services and/or grant-aid under the terms of the School Transport Schemes may be appealed to the School Transport Appeals Board.

The School Transport Appeals Board is independent in the performance of its functions and the Board liaises directly with appellants when their appeal is due for consideration. The role of the Board is to ensure that the terms of the School Transport Scheme are applied correctly.

As part of the appeals process, it is normal practice for the Appeals Board to seek from time to time information from other organisations such as Bus Éireann and the NCSE in order for them to have full information in relation to any such appeal and in order to give the appeal full consideration. School Transport Section as its role as Secretariat to the Board seek supporting information from these organisations.

Based on the unprecedented number of appeals received in August and September 2022, more reports have been requested than is normal. However the School Transport Appeals Board have been meeting more frequently than normal in recent months in an effort to consider all appeals that have been received.

My officials have contacted the Deputy to request further information on the specific case in question, once this information has been received they will respond to the Deputy directly.