Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 16 September 2016
381. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused a concessionary bus ticket for attending the closest secondary school to them in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24411/16]
View answerSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
During the 2015/16 school year in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in approximately 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.
Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that the child in question was incorrectly categorised as ineligible for school transport.
The family were notified of this error and a ticket for the 2016/17 school year has been issued. Bus Éireann will issue a refund to this family.
