Seán Sherlock
Question:520. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the number of appeals currently waiting for assessment under the school transport appeals board, by county, in tabular form. [54269/22]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 November 2022
520. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the number of appeals currently waiting for assessment under the school transport appeals board, by county, in tabular form. [54269/22]
View answerThe 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.
The School Transport Appeals Board is independent in the performance of its functions and the Board will liaise directly with the appellant when the appeal is due for consideration.
The information requested by the Deputy is as follows:
County |
Number of Appeals |
Carlow |
46 |
Cavan |
70 |
Clare |
67 |
Cork |
206 |
Donegal |
40 |
Dublin |
103 |
Galway |
217 |
Kerry |
31 |
Kildare |
126 |
Kilkenny |
53 |
Laois |
45 |
Leitrim |
28 |
Limerick |
45 |
Longford |
15 |
Louth |
83 |
Mayo |
19 |
Meath |
133 |
Monaghan |
32 |
Offaly |
20 |
Roscommon |
25 |
Sligo |
46 |
Tipperary |
45 |
Waterford |
27 |
Westmeath |
25 |
Wexford |
69 |
Wicklow |
21 |
Total |
1637 |