699. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if a school bus route could be restored to its previous route to accommodate a pupil (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35826/24]

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.  In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.

Over 140,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 3% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.

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.

Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible at post primary level, where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre.  Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.

Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.

Where practicable, and subject to considerations of cost and logistics, routes are planned to avoid an eligible child having to travel more than 3.2 kms to or from a pick-up/set down point or to have travel and waiting times in excess of 1.5 hours per day. Routes are planned on the basis of the locations of children who are eligible for school transport only.

Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring that children are brought safely to and collected safely from Bus Éireann designated pick up and set down points.

A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.

Bus Éireann have advised that the pupil, to whom the Deputy refers to, is eligible for school transport and resides 1.9kms from home to the route of an existing school transport service on which transport has been offered. The pick-up point mentioned by the Deputy has not been in operation since 2019.

The pupil is currently being offered transport within the guidelines of the School Transport Scheme.