Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 330, 331 and 332 together.

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 133,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the start of the 2022/2023 school year. The number of tickets issued so far has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.

In relation to the Deputy's request for data, Bus Éireann have confirmed that over 7,000 tickets have issued so far in Wexford for the 2023/2024 school year. Of these, 4,615 tickets have been issued to eligible pupils and 2,471 concessionary tickets have issued to pupils where there are remaining seats left on transport services.

In relation to the total number of concessionary school transport applications declined in County Wexford as of 1 September 2023; There is no separate application process for concessionary seats, children who are not eligible for school transport, but who complete the application and payment 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. Bus Éireann has advised that they are continuing to issue tickets applicants where seats are available for the 2023/24 school year.