Written Answers Nos. 86-105
86. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to conduct a survey of the number of motorised vehicles that pass through the Phoenix Park on a daily basis; his plans to expand and improve the existing cycle and pedestrian access and infrastructure through and around the Phoenix Park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16369/20]
View answerThe Office of Public Works is currently conducting traffic counts at a number of locations throughout the Phoenix Park and this data collection has been expanded to included all entrances from Monday 20th of July.
OPW is now seeking to undertake a comprehensive analysis of transport and mobility in the Park which will include a detailed consultation with a range of stakeholders to inform a new strategy for traffic management and mobility in the Park for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles including cars and public transport. This new strategy will chart a long-term programme of actions in relation to how the public access, experience and move within the park.
The priority for the Office of Public Works is to continue to engage with all stakeholders while providing all park users with a safe and accessible amenity to enjoy now and into the future.
87. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the cycle and pedestrian pathways on Chesterfield Avenue in the Phoenix Park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16370/20]
View answerIn response to the public health advices surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, The Office of Public Works introduced 7 kms of new cycle lanes adjacent to the main spine of the Park on Chesterfield Avenue in order to ensure sufficient space was created for social distancing on the inner pathways and to ensure the safety of both cyclists and pedestrians.
OPW is now collecting usage data for these new temporary cycle lanes. This data will be reviewed to establish their effectiveness or otherwise as cycle lanes. The evidence to date would suggest that there is significant usage of these lanes by both commuter and leisure cyclists. Local counting undertaken by Park staff recorded in excess of 200 cyclists per hour in the afternoons during the peak of the lockdown and it has been noted that the lanes continue to be used extensively by cyclists.
These two new cycle lanes also link directly to the existing cycle lanes on the Castleknock Road in the Fingal area and also to the Quays at Parkgate Street, thus providing a key link to the overall cycle network in Dublin.
It is hoped to maintain these cycle lanes in the short to medium term.
88. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of the sanction of and the amount allocated to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage following Cabinet agreement to provide for a commercial rates waiver earlier in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16398/20]
View answerIn May the previous Government agreed to waive commercial rates for businesses affected by the covid pandemic from end March to end June. This followed on from a earlier decision to defer rates for certain sectors most impacted such as the leisure, hospitality, retail and childcare sectors.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to "set out how commercial rates will be treated for the remainder of the year" and this is currently under consideration.
89. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of short-term let properties operating in rent pressure zones without the appropriate permissions identified by the local authorities and brought back to the long-term rental market since the relevant amendments to the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in 2019 by local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16355/20]
View answer90. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of applications received by local authorities from landlords wishing to let their properties as short-term lets; the number of these approved since the relevant amendments to the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in 2019 by local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16356/20]
View answer91. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of owner occupiers that have notified the local authority of their intention to engage in home sharing since the relevant amendments to the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in 2019 by local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16357/20]
View answer92. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he is considering regulating the platforms advertising these short-term lets placing the responsibility on the platform to ensure the host has secured the relevant planning permissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16358/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 89 to 92, inclusive, together.
The primary objective of the legislative changes introduced last year in relation to the regulation of short-term letting sector through the planning code is to help address its impact on the supply of private rented accommodation, particularly in urban centres of high housing demand i.e. rent pressure zones (RPZs). The planning system facilitates the regulation of such short-term letting uses undertaken by the individual carrying out the activity, i.e. the owner/occupier of the house or apartment, rather than the online platforms.
The broader regulation of tourism activity, including the possible development of a new regulatory or licensing/registration system for commercial platforms and short-term letting agents, was recommended in the final Working Group report on the regulation of short-term letting. The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future includes the specific action to strengthen the regulatory and enforcement mechanisms with regard to short-term lettings, and the approach in this regard will be considered over the coming months.
My Department has been in contact with each of the relevant local authorities in which RPZs are located throughout the year, and has requested regular updates on the enforcement and implementation of the Short Term Letting (STL) Regulations. Notwithstanding the impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the workforce and workload of local authorities over recent months, as well as on the short-term letting market itself, this enforcement and implementation has continued to the extent possible.
From data available to the Department, I understand that up to the end of Q1 2020 the relevant local authorities have identified 1,757 properties which are suspected of being in breach of the STL Regulations, i.e. operating in RPZs without the appropriate permissions. As these cases are the subject of further investigation, it is not yet possible to confirm how many of these are definitively in breach of the statutory requirements. However, the local authority returns indicate that a total of 633 planning enforcement warning letters have been issued. The STL Regulations aim to ensure that properties in breach of the legislation cease to operate in the short-term letting sector, and do not facilitate the following up on the subsequent use of such properties, including the transfer of such properties into the long-term rental market. Accordingly, data regarding the subsequent use of the properties concerned is not available to my Department.
Under the STL Regulations, planning permission is required for the short-term letting of a room or rooms in a house that is not a person’s principal private residence (house or apartment), or where the 90-day threshold for short-term letting of the entire home of a person’s principal private residence is exceeded. Up to the end of Q1 2020, the local authority returns indicate that there were 47 change of use planning applications for these purposes received by local authorities, with two of these being granted.
Under the Regulations, the legal use of a property for home-sharing or short-term letting is not restricted solely to owner-occupiers, but can also be undertaken by those who are not the legal owner of the property, subject to the provision of the legal owner's consent. While a breakdown of owner-occupiers that have notified local authorities of their intention to engage in home-sharing is not available to my Department, I can confirm that 637 completed "Form 15s" have been received by local authorities. This form serves to register the property with the local authority and notify the local authority of the intention that the properties concerned will be legally used for home-sharing or short-term letting, within the limits set out in the legislation.
Below is a table providing the data requested and outlined above.
|
Planning Authority |
Total no of properties identified as potentially in breach of STL regulations |
No of Form 15 (annual notification) received |
No of STL change of use planning applications received |
No of STL change of use planning permission granted |
No of warning letters issued (section 152) |
|
Carlow |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
Cork County |
Return awaited |
||||
|
Cork City |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
DLR |
46 |
99 |
0 |
0 |
46 |
|
Dublin City |
466 |
334 |
32 |
0 |
466 |
|
Fingal |
825 |
59 |
0 |
0 |
37 |
|
Galway City |
0 |
31 |
5 |
0 |
12 |
|
Galway County |
Return awaited |
||||
|
Kerry |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Kildare |
2 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
Kilkenny |
100 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Laois |
43 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
Limerick |
0 |
4 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Louth |
159 |
7 |
1 |
0 |
36 |
|
Meath |
0 |
21 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Offaly |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Sligo |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
South Dublin |
61 |
31 |
0 |
0 |
21 |
|
Waterford |
Return awaited |
||||
|
Westmeath |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Wexford |
45 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
|
Wicklow |
0 |
28 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
1757 |
637 |
47 |
2 |
633 |
93. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to increase radically the income limits for eligibility for social housing in view of the fact many persons who will never be able to afford to purchase their own house are over the current income thresholds and are therefore caught in a housing poverty trap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16382/20]
View answer95. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to assess the income limits to access local authority housing in view of the fact they have not been reviewed since 2016 and in further view of the rising costs of rents. [16389/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 95 together.
Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.
Under the Household Means Policy, which applies in all local authorities, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and Pension-Related Deductions within the meaning of Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities also have discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature.
The income bands are expressed in terms of a maximum net income threshold for a single-person household, with an allowance of 5% for each additional adult household member, subject to a maximum allowance under this category of 10%; and 2.5% for each child, subject to a maximum allowance under this category of 10%.
The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs, plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country. It is important to note that the limits introduced at that time also reflected a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced prior to the new system coming into operation, in order to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn, both promoting sustainable communities and also providing a degree of future-proofing.
Given the cost to the State of providing social housing, it is considered prudent and fair to direct resources to those most in need of social housing support. The current income eligibility requirements generally achieve this, providing for a fair and equitable system of identifying those households facing the greatest challenge in meeting their accommodation needs from their own resources.
However, as part of the broader social housing reform agenda, a review of income eligibility for social housing supports in each local authority area is under way. The review will also have regard to current initiatives being brought forward in terms of affordability and cost rental and will be completed when the impacts of these parallel initiatives have been considered.
There are a number of affordability measures to support people who wish to purchase their own homes. In particular, following a review of the previous two existing local authority home loan schemes, the House Purchase Loan and the Home Choice Loan, a new loan offering, known as the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan (RIHL), was introduced with effect from 1 February 2018. The loan enables credit worthy first time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties in a suitable price range.
As with previous local authority house purchase loan finance, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is available to first time buyers only. This is to ensure the effective targeting of limited resources.
My Department publishes information on the overall number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns for the RIHL. Local authority approval means that an official letter of offer has been sent to a borrower (and therefore relates to a specific property and loan amount). Information on the RIHL up to Quarter 4 2019, including in relation to the number and value of mortgage approvals and drawdowns and also average loan amounts, is available on my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-prices-loans-and-profile-borrowers/local-authority-loan-activity.
Furthermore, the availability of the Help To Buy Scheme for first-time-buyers offers additional assistance to purchasers of newly built properties. Up to 5% of the purchase price of properties below €400,000 could be available, which represents a significant contribution towards these deposit requirements. This should alleviate some of the challenges faced by first-time buyers in accessing the 10% deposit of the market value of the property. The initiative has been designed to provide immediate and targeted support for first-time buyers in meeting their deposit requirements and encouraging the construction of new housing units.
94. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 922 of 23 June 2020, the supports in place to assist families or individuals that may find themselves homeless and do not met the criteria to apply for housing supports via their local authority housing list (details supplied). [16388/20]
View answerMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the statutory role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level.
Under the Housing Act 1988 it is a matter for each local authority to determine whether a person is regarded as homeless; section 2 of the Act sets out the requirements in this regard. Any person regarded as homeless may be placed into temporary emergency accommodation without the requirement to undergo a social housing assessment; these arrangements give local authorities the flexibility that is essential to respond quickly and effectively to the various needs of cases that may arise.
96. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the projects under consideration by the Land Development Agency; the co-living and-or shared accommodation projects that are under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16393/20]
View answerThe Land Development Agency (LDA) was established on an interim basis in September 2018, by way of an Establishment Order (S.I. 352 of 2018, as amended by S.I. 603 of 2018) made under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971, pending the enactment of primary legislation when it will be established as a commercial State agency.
On establishment, the LDA had access to an initial tranche of 8 sites that have near term delivery potential for 3,000 new homes. The sites concerned are as follows:
1. Central Mental Hospital Site, Dundrum
2. Hampton, Balbriggan
3. Hacketstown, Skerries
4. Devoy Barracks, Naas
5. Former Meath Hospital, Dublin City Centre
6. St. Kevin's Hospital, Cork
7. Columb Barracks, Mullingar
8. Dyke Road, Galway
In addition, in partnership with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, the LDA have been granted planning permission for the development of 597 homes on a site in Shanganagh. It is intended that approximately 34% of the units in this development will be for social housing, 51% will be cost rental and 15% will be for affordable purchase.
The LDA is also working in partnership with other local authorities around the country. It is running a design review of the Sandy Road Regeneration Project in Galway which has the potential for up to 1,000 homes. It is also working with Limerick City and County Council on a site near Colbert Station in Limerick, funding a masterplan of the site which consists of lands owned by the Council, CIÉ, the Department of Education and the HSE.
Based on information provided by the LDA, there are currently no plans to include a co-living project on any sites currently under development.
As with all State bodies operating under the aegis of my Department, arrangements have been put in place by the LDA through which Oireachtas members can request information directly from the Agency in relation to operational matters - in this regard, the LDA may be contacted directly at oireachtas@lda.ie.
97. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the detailed information on the scheme to permit a rates waiver within local authorities following reports that, as the details of the scheme are not available to them, local authorities are demanding full payment of commercial rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16399/20]
View answerLocal authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on the occupiers of rateable property in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015.
In order to support the local government sector, my Department is continuing to keep local authority income, expenditure and cash flow generally under review and will work with all local authorities on both collective and individual issues arising.
The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future, commits to reviewing the treatment of commercial rates for the remainder of the year, as a priority action. This process is underway in my Department in the context of the forthcoming July stimulus. The previously announced waiver forms part of this consideration, with a view to a single communication with local authorities and ratepayers in the near future. Until such time as guidance on the scope and application of the waiver is finalised, local authorities continue to levy rates demands as normal.
98. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the blanket ban on landlords will be lifted with regard to the eviction of tenants (details supplied). [16433/20]
View answerWith effect from 27 March 2020, under new emergency measures introduced into law to protect tenants during the COVID-19 emergency period, tenants cannot be forced to leave their rental accommodation, other than in exceptional circumstances. The measures also prohibit any increase to rent for the duration of the emergency period. These emergency laws initially applied for a period of 3 months from the enactment of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 but, on the request of the former Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, the former Government, by Order, extended their application until 20 July 2020.
Under the legislation, the process for any extension of the COVID-19 emergency period involves the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government requesting the Government to make an Order, having consulted with the Minister for Health and with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Government must consider it appropriate and be satisfied that it is in the public interest to extend the emergency period having regard to the following:
- the threat to public health;
- the highly contagious nature of COVID-19; and
- the need to restrict the movement of persons to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
A request to Government to make an Order to extend the emergency period in accordance with the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 is under consideration.
The RTB would encourage landlords and tenants to communicate with each other during the emergency period to see if a resolution to any disputes can be found. The RTB is also encouraging all customers who may require assistance or advice to contact them via its web chat service as there may be delays to its phone lines during the emergency period. The webchat service can be accessed at the following link: https://onestopshop.rtb.ie/contact-us/.
99. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the timeline for the roll-out of a national retrofitting programme; the quarter in which the roll-out will commence; his plans to finance local authority retrofit programmes and grants for owners of private properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16462/20]
View answerAs set out in the Programme for Government, a national retrofitting scheme is due to be rolled out in 2021. The national retrofitting scheme will be managed by a newly designated National Retrofitting Delivery Body which is to be in place by the end of 2020. Responsibility for the National Retrofitting Scheme rests with my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action & Environment.
I am responsible for programmes that support energy efficiency renovations to local authority homes. My Department is providing funding support under the Social Housing Insulation Retrofitting Programme to local authorities since 2013, for insulation and energy efficiency works to their social housing stock.
The programme is implemented in two phases: Phase 1 is a shallow retrofit and ensures that the entire social housing stock has, as a minimum, cavity wall and attic insulation. Phase 2 is a deep retrofit and focuses on the fabric upgrade works to those dwellings with solid/hollow block wall construction and also provides for replacement windows/doors as well as heating upgrades (including upgrades to boilers, or a heat pump to replace the existing boiler). To date €151 million in Exchequer funding has been provided with over 72,000 social housing homes benefiting from upgrades. Funding support will continue in 2020 for this programme from a budget of €25 million, with local authorities selecting their properties for inclusion in the programme and determining the works that are necessary.
As part of the Just Transition proposals for the midlands region, Budget 2020 made provision for €20 million to fund energy efficiency upgrades to local authority houses in the affected counties as a pilot programme. The programme is designed to explore an alternative approach to the upgrade of the social housing stock in the area and also aims to group housing upgrades together so that opportunities for retrofitting will arise for private housing with support from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
This Programme is being developed under a Retrofit Taskforce and as well as my Department, the preparatory work also involves the Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment and the SEAI. All involved are working with the relevant local authorities to advance retrofitting in areas of sufficient concentration of local authority housing requiring energy upgrades.
Significant preparatory work has been completed to date, including a framework for the retrofit works and the identification by the local authorities of their selected areas of housing to be retrofitted. However, the cessation of many construction-related activities due to Covid-19 has had a significant impact on the work of the local authorities on this programme as essential preparatory work to survey local authority homes for the retrofit works was affected.
The adoption by the County and City Management Association (CCMA) of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for internal work to housing, has allowed the surveying work to proceed and as this is completed, it is expected that the retrofit works will commence on some local authority homes in August. The midlands pilot along with other pilot schemes which are due to commence rollout in early 2021, will be used to test key elements of the national plan.
100. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Defence when works commenced on the new gymnasium at James Stephen's Barracks, Kilkenny; and when works on same will finish. [16439/20]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that Kevin Moore (Building) Contractor Ltd were appointed, in October 2019, as the main contractor for the construction of a new gymnasium at James Stephen’s Barracks in Kilkenny. Works are progressing well on site and are expected to be completed by end year.
101. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Defence if matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) regarding a proposed landing strip for emergency medical flights will receive a response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16454/20]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that my Department has received this request and has recently received the military authorities' observations on the proposals. The matter is currently being considered by the Department and a formal response to the requestor will issue in the coming days.
102. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the need for an additional secondary school in Gorey, County Wexford, based on census figures and primary school enrolment data; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16321/20]
View answerIn order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date data on significant new residential development in each area. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes as there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.
Where data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, depending on the circumstances, be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
As the Deputy will be aware, since April 2018 the Government announced plans for the establishment of 45 new schools over the four years 2019 to 2022. This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country.
In addition to the new schools announced, there will be a need for further school accommodation in other areas in the future through either planned capacity increases in existing schools or additional accommodation or extensions to existing schools.
While the announcement did not include a new post primary school for the school planning area referred to by the Deputy, the requirement for new schools will be kept under on-going review and in particular will have regard for the increased rollout of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.
Under Project Ireland 2040, my Department continues to make progress to increase the infrastructural capacity in the schools sector, in order to meet demographic and other demands.
My Department will also continue to monitor areas where the accommodation of existing schools may need to be expanded in order to meet the needs of the local population.
103. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education and Skills the stages involved in the school building process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16326/20]
View answerAt present there are 5 stages of architectural planning involved in the delivery of major school projects. The stages reflect the Capital Works Management Framework developed by the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform.
The stages are as follows:
Stage 1 – Preliminary (Site Suitability and Investigations, Exploration of Design Options)
Stage 2 – Design (which is divided into Stage 2a – Developed Sketch Scheme and Stage 2b – Detailed Design)
Stage 3 – Tender Action, Evaluation and Award
Stage 4 – Construction
Stage 5 – Handover of Works and Final Account
The period of time it takes to progress through each of these stages varies from project to project depending on its size and complexity.
104. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the new school building for schools (details supplied); if funding has been allocated for the construction of the school; the timescale for completion of the project; when the new school will be handed over; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16327/20]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that a building project to provide improved accommodation for the schools in question is included on the Department's Capital Programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan (NDP).
The options for providing this accommodation are currently being explored with the Patron and my Department is awaiting further information from the Patron. My Department will continue to engage with the Patron relating to the proposed project.
105. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of school transport services for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16340/20]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Under the terms of the scheme, children are eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria (3.2km at primary and 4.8km at post-primary) and are attending their nearest school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Distance eligibility is determined by Bus Éireann by measuring the shortest traversable route from the child’s home to the relevant school.
All children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application and payment process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who complete the application process on time, are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Bus Éireann has confirmed that the service referred to by the Deputy was a service that was operated by Dublin Bus and that Dublin Bus has withdrawn this service. This service was part of a number services operated separately by Dublin Bus and children paid fares or availed of a range of weekly tickets when travelling. These services do not fall under the remit of my Department’s School Transport Scheme.
