School Transport Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 April 2014

Wednesday, 9 April 2014

Questions (60, 73)

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Question:

60. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the Ombudsman’s ruling in dealing with school transport that there is an onus on public bodies to provide fair and transparent procedures and that the current system regarding the pickup density of pupils in a distinct locality is decided on a basis without an objective published criterion or any rule to define a distinct locality for ten pupils in an area at the personal discretion of Bus Éireann employee and that his Department’s website indicates that a distinct locality is simply what Bus Éireann says it is and in order to comply with the ombudsman’s ruling the action he will take on that matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16895/14]

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Question:

73. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the Ombudsman’s ruling in dealing with school transport that there is an onus on public bodies to provide fair and transparent procedures and that the current system regarding the pickup density of pupils in a distinct locality is decided on an arbitrary basis without an objective criterion or any rule to define a distinct locality for ten pupils in some vague notional area at the whim of someone and it seems therefore that a "distinct locality" is simply what a Bus Éireann inspector says it is; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16969/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 73 together.

The terms of my Department's School Transport Schemes are available on my Department and Bus Éireann websites. For school bus operating purposes a "distinct locality" is a cluster of eligible children who reside in the same general area, in the same general direction from the school attended, as determined by Bus Éireann taking cognisance of the local road network. I am satisfied that this definition is commonly understood and is implemented in a fair and transparent manner.