Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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171. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school bus issue will be addressed for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39642/24]

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.

Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil to whom the Deputy refers is a mainstream eligible pupil and received a School Transport ticket on the 10th July 2024.

At present it is understood that this pupil is meeting the service at Brosna, which is 3.2km from their home. There is a closer pick up point at Knockane which is 0.6km from this pupils home which is the pick up point on their ticket.

Bus Éireann has advised that their local office will contact this family and advise them of the closer pick up point which is within guidelines under the post primary school transport scheme.

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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172. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding school transport for a student with special education needs (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39720/24]

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.

The National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs.

Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.

The pupil referred to by the Deputy is eligible under the terms of the scheme and approval has been given by the School Transport Section of my Department to Bus Éireann to establish a new service.

Bus Éireann have tendered this service in line with procurement guidelines and are in the process of sourcing a contractor to operate this service. Once a contractor has been sourced, the service will commence. Bus Éireann will liaise with families directly with regard to this matter at that stage.

Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs. Families of children who are eligible for these services may therefore apply for the interim Special Transport Grant. This is paid retrospectively to families once the School Transport service is in place. It is intended to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements that the family had to put in place during that time. The family have been contacted directly by officials in School Transport Section, and have been offered this grant.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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173. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if school bus tickets can be provided for two students (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39748/24]

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.

The purpose of the 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.

Bus Éireann has advised the pupils of the family of whom the Deputy refers reside 8.3 kilometres from home to school, their nearest school and school of attendance. They are eligible for transport as they meet the distance criteria under the post primary school transport scheme.

Bus Éireann further advise that an application was received on time for these pupils for the 2024/25 school year however no payment has been received to date. The local Bus Éireann office has advised that these pupils can be accommodated on a service once payment has been made. The family can make the payment by logging in to the Family Portal on the Bus Éireann website. The local Bus Éireann office will be in direct contact with the family regarding arrangements for the service once payment is made.

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.

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