Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 October 2015
338. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a specific policy on the withdrawal of school bus services for schoolchildren travelling from Johnstown Bridge in County Kildare; if she is aware of the impact of the non-provision of a school bus service on safety for children, traffic, expenditure and time spent commuting to the nearest school bus service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37024/15]
View answerUnder the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Bus Éireann has advised that under the terms of the Scheme children residing in the Johnstown Bridge area have transport eligibility to Longwood Post Primary Centre but are choosing to attend Kilcock Post Primary Centre. These children travel to Enfield to avail of concessionary transport to Kilcock Post Primary Centre.
School transport on a concessionary basis is subject to a number of terms and conditions including that there are spare seats available on an existing school bus service and on payment of the annual charge. Routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis.
The terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
The terms of the School Transport Scheme are available on the Departments website at www.education.ie.
