Seán Sherlock
Question:1036. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education if she will address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied). [39666/22]
View answerTuesday, 26 July 2022
Questions (1036)
Written answers
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.
Under the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kms 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 complete the application and payment/confirmation process on time are accommodated on school transport services.
Children who apply for transport and who are not eligible under the terms of the scheme are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Concessionary transport may vary from year to year and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s primary school education cycle. Where the number of applications for transport on a concessionary basis exceeds the number of seats available, Bus Éireann determines the allocation of the tickets and refunds payments where payments have been made on behalf of those concessionary applicants for whom no seats remain.
Bus Éireann have confirmed, the family referred by the Deputy reside 16.4 km from home their school of attendance, and reside 15.9 km from home to their closest Post Primary Centre. As the pupils are not attending their closest school, they can apply for transport on a concessionary basis. The pupils reside 2.2 km from home to their nearest pick up point for the service available.
Routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis.