Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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216. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of people who are in receipt of the remote area grant. [21821/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, 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 172,500 children, are transported daily in approximately 7,900 vehicles across 10,300 routes daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. These daily trips cover over 100 million kilometres. This figure includes over 143,800 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 21,700 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine.

The scheme is made up of three separate schemes, the school transport scheme for primary, post primary and for children with special educational needs. Transport is also provided for children who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine and those residing in IPAS/EROC centres.

The total expenditure on the scheme in 2024 was €512m.

Under the terms of my Department’s School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2kms at primary and 4.8kms at post-primary and are attending their nearest School/Education Centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Children who are eligible for school transport but for whom no service is available may be offered the Remote Area Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements following an application and payment/input of medical card details within the prescribe time limit. The Remote Area Grant is also payable for eligible children who may have to travel 3.2kms or more to or from a designated pick up/set down point.

1,732 families were in receipt of the Remote Area Grant for the 2023/24 school year.

John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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217. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of providers that are enrolled with Bus Éireann to provide school transport services for children with special educational needs in Cork for each of the years 2020 to 2024; the efforts being taken to enrol more providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21748/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, 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 172,500 children, are transported daily in approximately 7,900 vehicles across 10,300 routes daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. These daily trips cover over 100 million kilometres. This figure includes over 143,800 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 21,700 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine.

The scheme is made up of three separate schemes, the school transport scheme for primary, post primary and for children with special educational needs. Transport is also provided for children who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine and those residing in IPAS/EROC centres.

The total expenditure on the scheme in 2024 was €512m.

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.

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.

As part of the operation of the scheme, Bus Éireann manages the procurement tender process and contract management arrangements to include services provided by contractors. The transport services provided under the scheme for pupils with special educational needs are dedicated services from the pupil's home to school. In this regard, Bus Éireann procure services when they are advised by the School Transport Section within my Department that a pupil requires a service.

The Department engages with Bus Éireann on a daily basis in relation to policy and operational matters.

Challenges in sourcing drivers and contractors has been reported in all transport sectors.

Bus Éireann continue to engage regularly with existing contractors, and are currently running a comprehensive national, social and local media campaign to advertise for more school transport contractors and drivers into the scheme.

Targeted campaigns seeking taxi/bus operators takes place through NTA bulletins and mailing lists of registered licensed operators.

As part of the wider focus on contractor and driver requirements, a taskforce has been established which is being chaired by the Department of Transport to address these shortages nationally.

The data requested by the Deputy is provided in the attached table.