Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 November 2022
365. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the current status of a school transport grant application submitted on the 20 September 2022 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [59196/22]
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.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the School Transport Section in my Department has sanctioned the special transport grant to the parent of the pupil referred to by the Deputy. This payment is calculated from the date of application for a transport service to the time the service has commenced and is based on the number of days the pupil attends school.
The grant is usually paid three times a year, the first payment is due to issue in November 2022.
