Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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97. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the ongoing school transport review will facilitate children in September 2023 who cannot gain access to their nearest school due to a shortage of school places and would then not qualify for school transport as they would not be attending their nearest school or second nearest school; if she will give specific consideration to an area (details supplied) in County Cork which experiences this issue every year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22491/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf my Department. In the current school year, over 149,000 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 5,200 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.

A review of the School Transport Scheme is underway. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and sustainability, and to ensure that it serves students and their families adequately.

Phase 1 of the review, which was completed in June 2021, examined the impact of eligibility criteria on mainstream pupils who were eligible for transport to their nearest school but attending their next nearest school.

Following consideration of this report, for the 2021/2022 school year, the provision of temporary alleviation measures was approved for transport for post-primary students who were otherwise eligible for school transport, but were attending their second nearest school and had applied and paid on time. These measures have been continued for the current school year, and will again continue in the 2023/2024 school year pending completion of the review.

It is planned the review will be completed shortly with recommendations on the future operation of the Department’s School Transport Scheme. Once approved by Government, it is planned that the review will be published.

For the 2023/2024 school year, it remains that children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary 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 on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who complete 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.

If families have applied to attend their nearest school and have been advised by the school authorities that it is full, the Department of Education will consider if students can be deemed eligible for transport to the next nearest school. These families can submit details to the School Transport Section in the Department of Education where their request can be assessed.