Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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283. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the engagement that has taken place between her Department, Bus Éireann and a school (details supplied) in respect of a number of concerns in relation to a bus route, and a request to reroute same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24293/23]

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.

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 have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.

Bus Éireann has advised that pupils who avail of the bus route referred to by the Deputy are primarily mainstream concessionary pupils.

Bus Éireann have also advised that the pupils who avail of the referred bus route reside between 400 meters to 1.2 km away from their pick up point. There is currently 1 eligible and 6 concessionary pupils who use this Pick up Point.

The Bus Eireann Service Inspector has reviewed the referred pick up point and confirmed there are no issues. However, the Service Inspector has advised there is an alternative pick up point available which is approximately 2.0 km away from home, depending on where the pupil resides.

If families wish to avail of the alternate pick up point or have any queries, they can contact Bus Eireann directly. The contact details for each local area are available at: buseireann.ie/schooltransport.