Written Answers Nos. 210-225
210. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Defence the number of females currently qualified as military pilots within the Air Corps; the number of females currently in training to become qualified military pilots within the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47251/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe military authorities have advised that there is one qualified female pilot within the Air Corps and one female currently in training to become a qualified military pilot.
In line with current policies and commitments a number of initiatives have been implemented to increase the level of female participation in the Permanent Defence Force. These include:
- Special consideration is paid to women as a target group for recruitment within the general recruitment framework.
- A Gender Equality and Diversity Officer has been appointed to promote gender equality policies and training within the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces are committed to gender equality and employ a gender perspective in the planning and execution of operations both at home and overseas and in all policies and regulations. Gender Advisors are available to all Brigades and Services and trained Gender Focal Points are deployed with all overseas units and ships in order to promote a gender perspective in operations.
- A Defence Forces Women's Network was established with the aim of increasing the participation of female personnel at all levels of the organisation.
The Government remains committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities.
211. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education her plans to provide funding for pilot occupational therapy programmes in schools; if any such initiatives have taken place to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47157/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra272. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education her plans to provide pilot occupational therapy programmes in schools; if any such initiatives have taken place to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47158/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 272 together.
Budget 2019 allocated €4.75 million for the implementation of the recommendations of the Comprehensive Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme. The School Inclusion Model (SIM) is based on policy advice from the National Council for Special Education, based on the principle of providing the right support at the right time, delivered by a range of personnel with relevant qualifications and skill-sets. Its purpose is to help students achieve better outcomes. Independent evaluation is a central part of the project and the outcome will inform future policy on the potential to extend SIM to other schools.
The project includes a number of elements:
- Availability of therapists (speech and language, occupational) to schools to build teacher capacity
- Allocation of SNAs on a front-loaded basis
- Additional professional supports for the school including psychology, behavioural and professional development
- Training of SNAs
In February 2019, the Government approved the trialling of the Model for the 2019/20 school year. Initially designed as a one year pilot involving up to 75 participating schools in the CHO 7 region, it was interrupted by Covid-19 with the closure of schools and the diversion of HSE therapists from the project to Covid related work. It was then extended to the 2020/21 school year which was also interrupted by Covid. Progress has been made on aspects of the Model but much remains to be done in terms of in-school implementation and evaluation. The Pilot recommenced in November 2021 in CHO7.
SIM In-School Therapists work in partnership with teachers to co-develop interventions to support children. The interventions are founded in evidence-based occupational therapy (OT) and speech and language therapy (SLT) strategies and techniques, joined with the educational knowledge and experience of the teacher. The interventions are structured to be primarily delivered by the teacher, with support from the therapists.
The therapists provide relevant training, therapy-based strategies, coaching and modelling support to teachers to build their capacity. To ensure that therapy supports have long lasting impact, the overall focus is on building the capacity of schools and teachers, and embedding interventions into everyday school practices.
SIM provides a systemic approach to building the capacity of school communities to meet the needs of children.
There are a number of challenges and barriers to continuing the roll-out of SIM in CHO7 and expanding SIM to other areas at this time. The single biggest challenge is the availability of therapists. While the Department’s initial intention was to expand SIM to other areas, pressures relating to workforce supply (therapists and psychologists) have resulted in SIM being limited to one CHO area. This will remain in 2023.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) are engaging with CORU (regulatory body over therapists) to determine how the current registration process can be expedited. The HSE are engaging with the Department of Health, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and Dept. of Higher Education to explore how the Higher Education Institutes can increase third level capacity, with a focus on an initiative to commence in September 2023.
212. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education the reason that Bus Éireann does not provide a direct service for students from Castleblayney or Carrickmacross to Maynooth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47260/22]
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, 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.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, and rules have regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible but who apply for school transport are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Parents of a child wishing to avail of school transport services, are required to apply on-line to Bus Éireann’s website at www.buseireann.ie.
Bus Eireann has advised that pupils who reside in Castleblayney or Carrickmacross and attend education in Maynooth would not be eligible for school transport under the terms of the School Transport Scheme.
213. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education if she plans to reinstate the 1,800 assistant principal positions at primary and special school levels that remain outstanding since the end of the 2009 moratorium on promotion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47318/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra279. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a breakdown of assistant principal posts at primary school level created in the past 24 months, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47317/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 279 together.
The equivalent of approximately 1,300 middle management posts (Assistant Principal I and Assistant Principal II) have been restored at primary level since the lifting of the moratorium on these posts in 2017.
The Department has committed to annually revising the allocation of Posts of Responsibility to take into account retirements during the school year which has ensured that the current level of Posts of Responsibility (PORs) are maintained in the school system. New POR threshold tables are produced each year to distribute these PORs equitably across all school. Currently one in three teachers hold a promotional post within our schools.
The Sectoral Bargaining process under Building Momentum for the primary sector has been used to increase posts of responsibility (POR) in primary and special schools by 1,450 posts. The distribution of these additional posts of responsibility are comprehended in Circular 0043/2022, www.gov.ie/en/circular/87fa2-allocation-of-assistant-principal-posts-20222023/ - Allocation of Assistant Principal Posts 2022/2023.
The information requested by the Deputy is not available on a county basis.
214. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education the reason for the discrepancy of 72 cent per pupil per day in the capitation grant rate for primary school students at a mainstream rate of €183 per year and voluntary secondary school students at a rate of €316 per year; if she intends to remedy this discrepancy in budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47319/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides funding to recognised Primary and Post-Primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc. and the Ancillary/School Services Support Fund (SSSF) to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools also receive a range of other grants including Book Grants, Programme grants etc.
It is difficult to make precise comparisons between the levels of grants paid and the actual costs of running schools at primary and post-primary level.
In general, post-primary schools are larger than primary schools. They have specialist rooms such as laboratories, workshops etc. This leads to higher unit costs for heat, light, power, maintenance and cleaning.
215. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education if provision will be made in budget 2023 to expand the operational budget of the National Educational Psychological Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47320/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) of the Department provides a comprehensive, school-based psychological service to all primary and post primary schools through the application of psychological theory and practice to support the well-being, academic, social and emotional development of all learners. NEPS provides its service to schools through casework and through support and development work for schools. This includes guidance for teachers in the provision of universal and targeted evidence-informed approaches and early intervention to promote children’s well-being, social, emotional and academic development.
My aim for Budget 2023 is to continue to deliver on the priorities outlined in the Programme for Government and to continue to support students and staff.
216. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that children (details supplied) who have availed of school transport to their secondary schools for the past four and five years continue to be provided with transport, which is their only means of getting to school; if she will review the circumstances of this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46564/22]
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, 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.
The normal eligibility criteria of the scheme still apply and tickets continue to be allocated in line with this criteria. Pupils at primary level are eligible where they live no less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest primary school. At post primary level, students who live no less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre are deemed eligible.
Any pupils/students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.
In line with normal practice, all eligible children who completed the application and ticket registration process on time for the 2022/2023 school year will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Bus Éireann has advised that this family referred to by the Deputy are not eligible for school transport under the terms of the school transport scheme and were unsuccessful in obtaining a seat on board a school transport service for the 2022/23 school year as the existing service is operating to capacity.
217. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if a school transport ticket will be allocated to a student (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46565/22]
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, 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.
I am pleased to advise that the child referred to by the Deputy is eligible under the terms of the scheme and was issued a ticket on board a school transport service for the 2022/23 school year.
218. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if a school transport ticket will be allocated to a student (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46566/22]
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, 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.
The normal eligibility criteria of the scheme still apply and tickets continue to be allocated in line with this criteria. Pupils at primary level are eligible where they live no less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest primary school. At post primary level, students who live no less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre are deemed eligible.
Any pupils/students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.
In line with normal practice, all eligible children who completed the application and ticket registration process on time for the 2022/2023 school year will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for school transport under the terms of the school transport scheme and was unsuccessful in obtaining a seat on board a school transport service for the 2022/23 school year as the existing service is operating to capacity.
219. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if a school transport ticket will be allocated to a student (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46567/22]
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, 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.
I am pleased to advise that the child referred to by the Deputy is eligible under the terms of the scheme and was issued a ticket on board a school transport service for the 2022/23 school year.
220. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if school transport tickets will issue to three students (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46568/22]
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, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
The Department of Education and Bus Éireann have a process to facilitate the provision of School Transport Scheme Services for children arriving to Ireland from Ukraine.
For children residing with a host family or for children of Ukrainian families living in their own private accommodation, an application for school transport can be made via a link on www.gov.ie/ukraine to a form below;
Application form for school transport parent/guardian/host
For families and children residing in accommodation centres (or similar), school principals may apply for transport for children attending their school who are residing in such accommodation. School principals should complete the information required on a form which is available on Gov.ie and return it to their local REALT co-ordinator. Full information is available on gov.ie via this link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/320e9-employment-and-education/#education.
Children will be accommodated on existing services where there is capacity. Children will not be charged for their ticket and normal eligibility criteria will be waived. If there is no service or capacity, a grant may be offered to the family as appropriate.
Every effort will be made to ensure school transport services are up and running as they are required. However, given the ongoing movement and arrival of families, it may in some cases take some time to arrange services for families as information becomes available for those who require school transport.
New applications are required for all pupils for the 2022/23 school year and applications continue to be received on a daily basis as families are relocated or as new families arrive.
221. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if school transport tickets will be allocated to students (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46569/22]
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, 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.
I am pleased to advise that the children referred to by the Deputy are eligible under the terms of the scheme and were issued tickets on board a school transport service for the 2022/23 school year.
222. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if a school transport ticket will be allocated to a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46570/22]
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, 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.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using a random selection process.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy in this case is not eligible for transport as they are not attending their first or second nearest post primary centre. Furthermore, no ticket request was received for this pupil by the deadline of 29/07/2022.
The existing service is currently operating to capacity and there are no seats available at present.
223. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if a school transport ticket will be allocated to a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46571/22]
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, 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.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using a random selection process.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for school transport as they are not attending their nearest or second nearest post primary centre. The existing service is currently operating to capacity and there are no seats available at present. Furthermore, no ticket request was received for this pupil by the deadline of 29/07/2022.
224. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of children who have no access to school transport, by county in tabular form. [46575/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra242. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education the number of children who applied for and received school bus tickets to date in 2022 who are attending a secondary school and who did not previously hold a school bus ticket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46716/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra243. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education the number of children who applied for and received school bus tickets to date in 2022 who are attending a primary school and who did not previously hold a ticket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46717/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra244. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education the number of children who applied for a school bus ticket to date in 2022 who are attending a secondary school and were refused a ticket due to there being no place on the bus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46718/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 224 and 242 to 244, inclusive, together.
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. 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.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
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. Already 124,000 tickets for the 2022/2023 school year have been issued to applicants for the new school year.
At the start of the last school year, there were circa 103,600 children carried on mainstream school transport services so already in the region of 20,400 additional places have been created a 20% overall increase. There has been an increase of 18% to date in the number of tickets issued to eligible pupils and an increase of 27% to date on the number of tickets issued to concessionary pupils, compared to the start of the 2021/2022 school year.
Additional transport and drivers have been secured to cater for this increased demand for services.
The information requested by the Deputy is not available in the manner requested, as numbers are still being finalised for the 2022/23 school year as Bus Éireann continue to process applications, it is estimated however, that as of 20th September circa 600 on time applications are still in the process of being assessed.
Bus Éireann will continue to process applications and to issue tickets as soon as extra buses and drivers are sourced and become available to provide transport for the higher numbers qualifying for the service. However, regrettably the unprecedented numbers of new applications for the upcoming school year, has led to some delays in issuing tickets.
As Bus Éireann process remaining applications and where additional services may need to be put in place for eligible children, any capacity on these services will be offered to concessionary applicants.
The normal eligibility criteria of the scheme still apply.
Pupils at primary level are eligible where they live no less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest primary school.
At post-primary level students who live no less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre are deemed eligible.
All children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time and who confirmed to Bus Éireann that they require a ticket by the 29th July 2022 will be accommodated on school transport services for the 2022/23 school year where such services are in operation.
In addition, pending completion of the outcome of the full review of the School Transport Scheme, Temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level be continued for the 2022/2023 school year. Under these measures, which were initially introduced in 2019, transport will provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied by the 29th April and registered for a ticket by 29 July.
Any pupils/students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary, applicants and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat on when all eligible children have been catered for.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible pupils/students and the priority of providing places for eligible ticket holders, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
225. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if school transport tickets will be allocated to students (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46581/22]
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, 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.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using a random selection process.
Bus Éireann have confirmed that the pupils to which the Deputy refers were unsuccessful in obtaining concessionary seats for the 2022/23 school year as they are not eligible for transport under the terms of the School Transport Scheme as they are not attending their nearest primary school. The existing service is currently operating at full capacity and there are no seats available at present.
