Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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316. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 253 of 27 April 2023, if she will confirm whether Bus Éireann has reviewed the school transport application in question to determine whether concessionary transport is available from the nearest pick-up point from their family home; if Bus Éireann has contacted the family directly in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24766/23]

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.

Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Bus Éireann has advised the pupils referred to by the Deputy are not eligible for school transport under the terms of the Post Primary Scheme as the pupils are attending their second nearest post primary school.

Pupils who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis in accordance with the terms of the Scheme and subject to a number of terms and conditions including

• there is a suitable service, as determined by Bus Éireann, operating into their education centre;
• there is spare capacity on the service;
• routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis; no additional State cost will be incurred;