Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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620.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to review a school bus ticket application (details supplied); if she will review correspondence which outlines the issues with the authorised collection and pickup times; if she will arrange for Bus Éireann to provide adjusted collection and pickup times on this route in order that all bus ticket holders can avail of the full school bus service on all days for this school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[35001/24]

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 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were 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.

Over 140,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 3% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.

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.

In relation to the issue raised by the Deputy, I am pleased to advise that the departure time of the service has been put back on Wednesdays and Thursdays to allow more time for pupils to come out of school.