Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 September 2022
307. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that a child (details supplied) who has availed of school transport to their secondary school for the past three years, continues to be provided with transport which is their only means of getting to school; if she will review the circumstances of this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45423/22]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the coming school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.
Ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.
Bus Éireann have advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is eligible for transport as they are attending their nearest Post Primary Centre. However, no ticket request was received for this pupil by the deadline of 29/07/2022.
The existing school transport service is currently operating to capacity and there are no seats available at present.
