John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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332. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans her Department has for the transport of pupils to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22735/23]

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 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. There has been an increase of 21% tickets issued to eligible students and 38% tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the current 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.

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.

Applications for children resident in Direct Provision, who wish to avail of school transport must be made to Bus Éireann. Applications are made on behalf of these students by TUSLA to the relevant local Bus Éireann office.

The general terms of the Primary/Post Primary School Transport Scheme will apply however;

1. The distance eligibility criteria of 3.2 kilometres (Primary) or 4.8 kilometres (Post Primary) will be waived
2. Children who are attending their nearest school, having regard to ethos and language, in which a placement was found at the time of their first enrolment will be eligible for school transport.