Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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368. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that avail of the school transport each year; and the number of students that avail of the SEN school transport scheme. [40429/23]

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 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

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

In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

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

There has been an overall increase in both applications and tickets issued for the 2023/2024 school year in comparison to the 2022/2023 school year.

To date Bus Éireann has issued over 133,000 tickets for mainstream school transport services. This represents an increase of over 7% in mainstream tickets issued compared to the start of the 2022/2023 school year.

With regard to transport services for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), at present, close to 5,000 new applications have been received for SEN transport for the 2023/2024 school year, with some 1,400 of these having been received in July alone. This compares to some 3,670 new applications received at this time last year.Transport is being provided for over 3,000 new applicants for the 23/24 school year, with transport being provided overall for over 19,000 pupils in the current school year. As there is no defined closing date for SEN applications, applications continue to be received all year round.

Where a new service is sanctioned, this means a procurement / vetting process is required, while in many instances the school is also sanctioned to employ a transport escort and this necessarily takes time to put in place. By accepting applications year round, the Department can ensure that children with special educational needs receive the transport they require.

To ensure the efficient delivery of services for children on Special Educations Needs school transport, Bus Éireann assesses each application to identify the options available. Where children can be facilitated on an existing service, applications are processed immediately and arrangements put in place with families involved.

Where a new service has to be established there is a lead in period for this process that includes issues such as:

• route design and procurement including contract award.
• in many instances a School Bus Escort is required for the child’s safe transport to school and it can take time for the school to source a suitable person which can impact the start date.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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369. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if school transport can be provided to siblings (details supplied) attending a gaelscoil; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40462/23]

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 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

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

Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.

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 and payment process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation for the 2023/2024 school year. The 2023/2024 closing date for applications and payments was 28th April 2023 and 9th June 2023 respectively.

Bus Éireann have advised that the family, to whom the Deputy refers, are eligible for school transport. However the family made a late payment on 31st August 2023 and the service that could accommodate the family is now operating to capacity with no seats available.