Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
866. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if school transport will be provided to a student (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that this student was always in receipt of school transport but due to an inadvertent error there is no application on file for this student. [42874/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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, are 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.
I am pleased to advise that the child referred to by the Deputy are eligible under the terms of the scheme. Bus Éireann has advised that their local office has liaised directly with the family referred with regard to issuing a ticket on board a school transport service for the 2022/23 school year.
