Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2021
351. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if the distance eligibility for post-primary school transport is the shortest possible route by car or on foot from the applicant's home to the school such as in a case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34977/21]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.
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 the 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.
Bus Eireann have confirmed that the pupil, to whom the Deputy refers, resides 4.7kms from the school that they are attending therefore they are not eligible for school transport. School Transport Section has asked Bus Éireann to carry out a calibrated measurement on the route in question and will revert to the family when further information is available.
