Niamh Smyth
Question:345. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37602/17]
View answerMonday, 11 September 2017
Questions (345)
Written answers
School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
During the 2016/17 school year almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.
Under the terms the Primary School Transport Scheme Children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann.
Bus Éireann has advised that the family in question are not eligible for school transport as they reside less than 3.2 kilometres from their school of attendance.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only which is subject to a number of terms and conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service and payment of the annual charge.
In this case, the number of applications for transport on a concessionary basis exceeded the number of spare seats available. However, the family in question were allocated seats during the subsequent selection process and are availing of transport.
The terms of the School Transport Schemes are applied equitably on a national basis.