Seán Sherlock
Question:380. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the status of all appeals that have been received for school transport; and the number of appeals that have been upheld to date. [48128/22]
View answerTuesday, 4 October 2022
Questions (380)
Written answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last 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.
In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the coming school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.
Ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.
Decisions made by, or on behalf of, the Department of Education regarding the provision of school transport services and/or grant-aid under the terms of the School Transport Schemes may be appealed to the School Transport Appeals Board.
In 2022 a total of 1,644 appeals have been submitted for consideration by the School Transport Appeals Board. Of the total appeals heard by the Board in 2022, to date 225 were upheld by the Board and 88 were allowed or resolved.
Question No. 381 answered with Question No. 365.