Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 June 2016
88. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a secondary school bus will be provided from Johnstown Bridge in County Kildare to a school (details supplied) due to the volume of students travelling and given that there is no bus from there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16300/16]
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 kilometres 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 children residing in the Johnstown Bridge area are not eligible for school transport to school referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied. These children may only avail of school transport on a concessionary basis.
Under the terms of the Scheme, 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.
