Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1094. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if she will amend eligibility under the terms of the school transport schemes to include regard for children to attend post-primary level where they reside no fewer than 4.8 km from, and are attending, their nearest co-educational post-primary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40642/22]
View answerSchool 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. The cost in 2021 was over €289m.
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.
The review of the School Transport Scheme is currently underway and is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme and how it currently operates, its broader effectiveness and sustainability and that it adequately supports the provision of services to students and their families.
Wider considerations relating to operation of the scheme are now taking place in the next phase of the review which is currently underway.
The Steering Group will continue to report to me on an interim basis as the review progresses.
