Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2023
253. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she can review an application for school transport for Ukrainian students to attend a school (details supplied); when a decision will be issued on this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51878/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Over 134,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the start of the 2022/2023 school year. The number of tickets issued so far has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year. There has been an overall increase in both applications and tickets issued for the 2023/2024 school year in comparison to the 2022/2023 school year.
Bus Éireann has advised that they are at the final stages of procurement in relation to sourcing a contractor to operate the service referred to by the Deputy to facilitate all 3 pupils, once all final checks are completed and are in order, which include garda vetting and document checks, the service will commence in the coming days. Bus Eireann will contact the families directly with once all details have been confirmed.
