Paul Kehoe
Question:262. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education the reason that a child was refused a school bus ticket (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46388/22]
View answerThursday, 22 September 2022
Questions (262)
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 €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.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Bus Eireann has advised, that the pupil referred to by the Deputy did not request a ticket by the deadline of 29th July 2022. The existing school transport service is currently operating to capacity and there are no seats available at present.