Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2022
414. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Education if she will establish a dedicated helpline within her Department for Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas who need to access information on school transport provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51152/22]
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. The cost of the scheme in 2021 was €289m.
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.
Currently there is a dedicated email address, oireachtasqueries@education.gov.ie, that members of the Oireachtas can use for specific queries they may have with regard to school transport cases. Alternatively, members of the public can contact school transport section directly at school_transport@education.gov.ie or by calling the numbers listed on gov.ie/schooltransport.
