Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 October 2016
177. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a family (details supplied) has to pay for school transport; if his Department will consider waiving the school transport fee in the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29742/16]
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.
As the Deputy is aware, under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
In general children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of terms and conditions including that there are spare seats available on an existing school bus service and payment of the annual charge. A medical card waiver does not apply to concessionary transport.
Bus Éireann has advised that the child in question is not eligible for school transport but is availing of school transport on a concessionary basis.
While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport is to the nearest education centre/school.
The terms of the Scheme are applied equitably on national basis.
