Gerald Nash
Question:94. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education when a decision on a school transport case will be finalised (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32149/20]
View answerThursday, 22 October 2020
Questions (94)
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.
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. The closing date for payment for the 2020/2021 school year was Tuesday 4th August 2020.
Bus Eireann has confirmed, that the family to whom the Deputy refers, is eligible for school transport as they are attending their nearest post primary school, however Bus Éireann has also confirmed that no payment for school transport for the 2020/2021 school year was received by the family in question.
The existing school transport service is currently operating to capacity and there are no seats available at present.