Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 July 2016
237. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Skills to honour the commitment made by Minister of State, Deputy John Halligan, that all concessionary students will be accommodated on school buses; if he will address specifically the concessionary students availing of the service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24249/16]
View answerIn general, children are eligible for school transport if they are attending their nearest school and satisfy the requisite distance criteria.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only.
Transport on a concessionary basis is subject to a number of conditions which are detailed in the School Transport Scheme such as the existence of spare seats on the bus after all eligible children have been catered for and payment of the school transport charge.
The Programme for Government commits to review the concessionary charges and rules element of the School Transport Scheme prior to Budget 2017.
Pending this review, there will be no planned programme of downsizing school buses in the coming school year. There will be route changes and variations in line with normal operational decisions that occur from year to year, and any impacts in terms of increases or decreases of available places will be marginal, in line with what occurs every year.
It is important to point out that this has no impact on children who are eligible for school transport.
