Michael Healy-Rae
Question:395. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education the status of an application for school transport by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23346/20]
View answerTuesday, 15 September 2020
Questions (395)
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 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 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 completed the application and payment process on time have been accommodated on school transport services for the 2020/21 school year where such services are in operation.
Bus Éireann, who operate school transport on behalf of my Department, has advised that the children referred to by the Deputy are eligible for school transport under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme. However, only part payment was made by the closing date of payments for school transport and tickets were not issued.
Bus Éireann has also advised that the remainder of the payment has now been received and that there are seats available and tickets will issue in due course.