Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2022
532. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education the reason that the 20% discount for transport has not been passed on to the children and students using the school transport system given the cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37018/22]
View answer558. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education when a school transport ticket refunds will issue to applicants who had already made payments before the announcement of the school bus fee waiver; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37747/22]
View answer563. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education if her Department is putting in place a reimbursement process for parents who have already paid their children’s school bus fee for the academic year 2022/2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37783/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 532, 558 and 563 together.
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 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 €289m in 2021.
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.
As the Deputy is aware I recently announced initiatives to assist families with back to school costs.
In recognition that this is an expensive time of year for families, I have put in place measures worth over €17m which will ensure free school transport for families availing of the school transport scheme in the 2022/2023 school year. This measure will provide families with savings of up to €500 on the cost of tickets.
Families have already applied for their tickets for the school year and these will be processed in the usual way, but without a fee being charged.
Families who have already paid/entered medical card details for their ticket do not need to take any further action. Families who have not yet paid for their ticket will need to confirm they still require a ticket by the 29th July 2022 and further information will issue to families shortly in this regard.
Bus Éireann have informed my Department they will process a full refund to families who have already made payments for the new school year. Less than 20% of families who have applied for school transport have made a payment for the 2022/2023 school year.
While Bus Éireann will endeavour to provide refunds to customers as soon as possible, the system will prioritise the issuing of school transport tickets so that students can travel on school transport in the coming year. It is expected that the likely time period for refunds to issue will be late August/early September.
