Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 October 2022
403. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education the reason that the school transport section of her Department has failed to reply to correspondence on five separate occasions from a Donegal school (details supplied) in relation to a transport application for 30 students who are now over five weeks without transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49810/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra404. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education when an application for school transport submitted in June 2022 for 30 Ukrainian children by a Donegal school (details supplied) will be processed and the school informed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49811/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra405. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education when the tender will be awarded for an application for school transport submitted in June 2022 for 30 Ukrainian children by a Donegal school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49812/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 403, 404 and 405 together.
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. In the past 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.
My Department and Bus Éireann will continue to provide School Transport Scheme services in line with the process that was in place for the 2021/2022 school year for children arriving to Ireland from Ukraine. Full information on the process is available on Gov.ie/Ukraine.
Children who for the first time require School Transport for the 2022/2023 school year will need to apply in line with this process. Due to the ongoing situation with accommodation, where there has been, and may continue to be, significant movement of families, all Ukrainian children who had availed of School Transport for the 2021/22 school year need to re-apply for transport for the 2022/23 school year in line with this process.
I am pleased to advise that my Department has received applications for school transport from the pupils referred to by the Deputy and these applications have been assessed by Bus Éireann and a service was sanctioned on 29th September.
