Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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245. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school bus service can be provided for an area in County Kildare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24050/24]

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 161,600 children are being transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. This figure includes over 135,000 children on mainstream services, 19,800 on children with special educational needs, and 6,800 children who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine.

Children are eligible for transport at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre/post primary school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Any children who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.

Temporary Alleviation Measures are in place for the 2024/2025 school year, these measures mean that transport will be provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and, who applied for school transport by the 26th April 2024 and pay for a ticket/enter medical card details by the 7th June 2024.

A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.

In cases where the Department is satisfied that the nearest/next nearest schools are full, eligibility for school transport will be determined based on the distance the pupil resides from their next nearest school having regard to ethos and language.

The closing date for new applications was 26th April 2024. The closing date for payment/entering medical details for tickets for the 2024/25 school year is Friday 7th June 2024. It is only after this time that Bus Éireann will know how many applications have been received and paid for. At that point, services will be planned for the upcoming school year.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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246. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the up-to-date position regarding an application for a school bus ticket by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24051/24]

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 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.

Under the current terms of the scheme, 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. Any children who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.

Temporary Alleviation Measures (TAMS) at post-primary level are continued for the current school year. Under these measures, transport will be provided where there is a route in operation and where capacity exists for concessionary post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied and paid on time.

Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only and will be facilitated where spare seats are available after eligible children have been accommodated. Where the number of ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for the spare seats using an agreed selection process.

In cases where families have applied to attend their nearest school in regards to ethos and language and have been advised by the school authorities that it is full, the Department will consider if the pupil is eligible to the next nearest school. While the closest school(s) may be full to capacity at present, each family must supply the documents mentioned below, to School Transport Section;

• Evidence that an application for enrolment was made within the deadline dates specified by the school.
• A letter from the school authorities confirming that the school was full.
• A copy of the decision reached following an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act, 1998. The Act provides for an appeal by a parent to the Secretary General of the Department where a Board of Management of a school has refused to enrol a child.

Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is attending their second nearest school. Bus Éireann has also advised that they have received an application and payment for this pupil.

The closing date for payment/entering medical details for tickets for the 2024/25 school year is Friday, 7 June 2024. It is only after this time that Bus Éireann will know how many applications have been received and paid for. At that point, services will be planned for the upcoming school year.