Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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265. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a child can be deemed eligible for school transport to their second closest school when there is no bus service to their closest school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20117/23]

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.

If families have applied to attend their nearest school in regards to ethos and language and have been advised by the school authorities that it is full, my Department will consider if students can be deemed eligible for transport to the next nearest school.

To establish that the nearest school is full parents must provide:-

- The steps taken to enrol their child in the nearest and next nearest schools

- Evidence that an application for enrolment was made within the deadline dates specified by the school and

- A letter from the School Authorities confirming that the school was full at the time of enrolment.

These families can submit details to the School Transport Section at school_transport@education.gov.ie where officials in my Department will be happy to assist.