Niall Collins
Question:349. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education if a student (details supplied) will be issued a bus ticket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45836/22]
View answerTuesday, 20 September 2022
Questions (349)
Written answers
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. In the past school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
My Department and Bus Éireann will continue to provide School Transport Scheme services in line with the process that was in place for the 2021/2022 school year for children arriving to Ireland from Ukraine. Full information on the process is available on Gov.ie.
Children who for the first time require School Transport for the 2022/2023 school year will need to apply in line with this process. Due to the ongoing situation with accommodation, where there has been, and may continue to be, significant movement of families, all Ukrainian children who had availed of School Transport for the 2021/22 school year need to re-apply for transport for the 2022/23 school year in line with this process.
Applications continue to be received on a daily basis as families are relocated or as new families arrive.
Bus Éireann have confirmed that an application for school transport has not yet been received for the pupil referred to by the Deputy.
School transport can only be arranged once the School Transport Section have been made aware of transport needs for children arriving from Ukraine. For safety reasons only children who have applied for school transport may travel on that transport.
While every effort will be made to ensure school transport services are up and running as they are required, given the ongoing movement and arrival of families, it may in some cases take some time to arrange services for families as information becomes available for those who require school transport.