278. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position in relation to the cost involved for students that have been allocated a concessionary school transport place and that hold a medical card due to a particular medical condition they have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5060/20]

School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department.

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 the current school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, are transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.

Under the terms of the scheme, children are eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria (3.2km at primary and 4.8km at post-primary) and are attending their nearest school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Only children who are eligible for school transport and who hold a valid medical card (GMS scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge.