Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 November 2022
116. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education when her Department will respond to Donegal ETB in relation to funding the ferry cost for Ukrainian students enrolled in a school (details supplied). [58314/22]
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.
My Department and Bus Éireann will continue to provide School Transport Scheme services 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 children need to reapply for a transport service for the 2022/2023 school year.
Applications for school transport for people residing in accommodation centres are submitted by REALT co-ordinators to School Transport Section of the Department of Education, which in turn liaise with Bus Éireann in order to provide school transport services as required.
Regional Education and Language Teams (REALT) are hosted by the 16 regional education and training boards around Ireland and staffed by regionally based education support personnel. The primary role of the REALT is to build on existing regional education support structures and the initial focus will be on assisting families in securing school places. REALT will also support schools in the area to meet the needs of these children as they emerge, to advise and support the Department of Education in developing new capacity where required, and to co-ordinate the provision of education services to schools and families across their defined area.
School Transport Section in the Department sanctioned transport for the pupils referred to by the Deputy. Bus Éireann have confirmed that transport has been arranged and that transport is available to be provided to the ferry port referred to by the Deputy.
Funding for ferry transport to the Islands is outside the remit of the School Transport Scheme and is a matter for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media.
Officials in my Department liaise regularly with the local REALT coordinator in relation to this and other matters.
