Seán Sherlock
Question:1082. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education if she will account for the fact that there is no school transport in an area (details supplied) to serve Liscarroll, County Cork. [40433/22]
View answerTuesday, 26 July 2022
Questions (1082)
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 4.8kms 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 complete the application and payment/confirmation process on time have been accommodated on school transport services for the 2021/2022 school year where such services are in operation.
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 education cycle. In previous years, 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 made on behalf of those concessionary applicants for whom no seats remain.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil is not eligible for the School Transport Scheme as they are not attending their closest school. The family have been informed, and they have applied for a concessionary ticket. Bus Éireann will contact the family directly in this regard.