Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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722.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide details of the school transport grant; who can apply for same; the nature of the application process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32193/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.

Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.

Parents of children wishing to avail of school transport services are required to apply on-line to Bus éireann’s website at buseireann.ie/schooltransport

The closing date for new applications for the school year 2024/25 was 26 April 2024 and the closing date for payment was 07 June 2024. Families may still apply for school transport following this date, but if the application or payment is late they may not secure a seat on a service and will not be considered for a remote area grant.

An eligible child for whom no transport service is available may, following an application for transport within prescribed time limits, receive a Remote Area Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements. This grant is also payable for eligible children who may have to travel 3.2 kms or more to or from a designated pick up/set down point.

Families who are eligible for Remote Area Grant payment and are contacted directly by School Transport Section towards the end of the relevant school year.

Separately, the purpose of the Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability.

In general, children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest school that is resourced to meet their special educational needs. Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).

A Special Transport Grant (STG) towards the cost of private transport arrangements may be provided to families of eligible children in certain circumstances where for example Bus éireann is not in a position to provide a transport service or have contractor/procurement issues until a service becomes available or where a child's care needs are such as to make the provision of a transport service impracticable

School Transport Section of my Department contact families in this regard, following consultation with Bus éireann on these applications.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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723.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the school transport system, following the publication of the review; the measures that will be implemented in September 2024 for families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32194/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.

Under the current terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.

Parents of children wishing to avail of school transport services are required to apply on-line to Bus éireann’s website at buseireann.ie/schooltransport

The closing date for new applications for the school year 2024/25 was 26 April 2024 and the closing date for payment was 07 June 2024.

Families may still apply for school transport following this date, but if the application or payment is late they may not secure a seat on a service and will not be considered for a remote area grant.

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.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time (apply on time and pay on time) are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where there is capacity to do so.

Children who are not eligible but who apply for school transport are 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.

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, are attending their second nearest school and who applied and paid on time.

Bus éireann is currently assessing all applications and planning for routes and services for the 2024/25 school year following the closing date for payments. Once routes have been finalised, Bus éireann will assign tickets for each vehicle. Tickets will begin to issue in mid-July and will continue to issue throughout July and August. Families who are unsuccessful in obtaining a seat will be notified via email and a refund will issue.

As the Deputy will know, the School Transport Scheme 2030 report has now been published, which marks the largest review of the School Transport Scheme since it was established in 1967. The Government is committed to working to achieve the report’s recommendation of expanding access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030. Throughout the review, the value of the School Transport Scheme to both families and in supporting wider Government policies has been very apparent. In summary, school transport not only plays an important part in supporting children's access to education, but it also aligns to wider Government objectives.

Overall the recommended changes to the future operation of the Scheme concern:

• expansion of the current eligibility criteria,
• addressing current operational challenges
• charges and grants and
• over time, moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure optimum value for money to the Exchequer
• A phased implementation of the review’s recommendations will commence in September 2024. This will include a shared effort between my Department and the Department of Transport to pilot and introduce greater integration of the roll out of transport networks with school transport routes, with a view to expanding provision of transport and reducing the reliance over time on individual car trips for school journeys.
• It is intended subject to resources to commence implementing the revised eligibility criteria in the 2025/2026 school year.