Marian Harkin
Question:459. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education the reason a bus pass was refused for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28505/20]
View answerTuesday, 6 October 2020
Questions (459)
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 Post Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8kms from and are attending their nearest Post Primary School/Education Centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
The pupil referred to by the Deputy resides 16.7 km from home to their closest school and school of attendance and 6.2km from home to their closest pick up point.
The pupil was issued a mainstream eligible ticket which could be used on a scheduled service road passenger bus from their closest pick up point, however pupils who were facilitated on this service now travel on a new dedicated school transport service. If this pupil wishes to travel on this service the family should contact their local Bus Éireann office.
The service which the pupil wishes to travel on is a road passenger service which school transport tickets cannot be used on. The pupil can use this public service on a pay as you go basis but will need to purchase a weekly ticket. The pupil cannot be issued with a school transport ticket for this service as this is a public service bus.