Michael McNamara
Question:357. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education if the case of a child (details supplied) who has no school transport will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46009/22]
View answerTuesday, 20 September 2022
Questions (357)
Written answers
The 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 €289 million 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.
Already 124,000 tickets for the 2022/2023 school year have been issued to applicants for the new school year. To date, circa 20,400 additional places have been created for children for the 2022/2023 school year.
Where practicable, and subject to considerations of cost and logistics, routes are planned to avoid an eligible child having to travel more than 3.2 kms to or from a pick up/set down point or to have travel and waiting times in excess of 2.5 hours per day. Routes are planned on the basis of the locations of children who are eligible for school transport only.
Bus Éireann has advised the pupil that is referred to by the Deputy is attending their second nearest Post Primary Centre, the application and ticket request was submitted before the closing date. Bus Éireann advises the pupil is assigned to an existing service where the pickup point is approximately 3.6 km from their home address. Bus Éireann are in the process of assessing if an alternative service is available which is closer to the pupil’s home address and will be in contact directly with the family.