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School Transport

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020

Tuesday, 15 September 2020

Questions (385)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

385. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education if the distinction between concessionary and eligible students regarding school transport will be removed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23511/20]

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Written answers

School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. 

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 Department's School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometers (Primary) or 4.8 kilometres (Post Primary) from and are attending their nearest school/education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

All children who are eligible for school transport and who have 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 may apply for transport on a concessionary basis and are facilitated where spare seats exits after eligible children have been accommodated.  Where the number of ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available Bus Éireann allocates tickets using an agreed selection process.

Concessionary transport may vary from year to year and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s primary or post primary school education cycle.  The provision of a seat on a concessionary basis in a given year does not confer any continuing entitlement for that user in following years as concessionary places are entirely contingent on there being spare seats once eligible users are provided for.

As the Deputy may be aware, a Review of the School Transport Scheme was announced by my predecessor in October 2019.  Given the current evolving situation with Covid-19 the proposed review has been delayed.  I propose to convene the Steering Group shortly and to agree and supplement revised terms of reference to reflect the Programme for Government including  identifying recommendations for the scheme to provide better value and a better service for students, including those with special educational needs, and examining issues such as the nearest or next-nearest school.

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