Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
556. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when an appeal (details supplied) submitted to the School Transport Appeals Board will be processed and a decision reached, in view that it has been over seven weeks since the appeal was submitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48676/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
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 are independent of my Department and the Board liaise directly with Appellants.
The School Transport Appeals Board have confirmed that an appeal in respect of school transport for the family referred to by the Deputy was lodged with the School Transport Appeals Board. Appeals are considered in date order based on the date of receipt the appeal was received. The Board will liaise directly with the appellants when the appeal(s) are due for consideration.
The School Transport Appeals Board have confirmed they have requested a report from Bus Eireann and School Transport Section of the Department of Education. When these reports are available the family will receive a copy of them along with the date their appeal will be considered by the Board (by e-mail).
At that stage the family will be given the opportunity to include any further information that they feel would be relevant to their appeal before it is considered by the Board.
