Michael Creed
Question:181. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education the progress has she made with regard to concessionary tickets for the pupils referred to in previous correspondence (details supplied). [47437/22]
View answerWednesday, 28 September 2022
Questions (181)
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.
Generally, pupils residing in the area mentioned by the Deputy are not eligible for transport to the post primary centre referred to by the Deputy as it is not their nearest post primary centre.
There are currently 6 mainstream school transport services which operate from the surrounding areas of the locality in question to the post primary centre mentioned by the Deputy. Please see table below which outlines the information regarding each mainstream school transport service.
|
Vehicle Capacity |
Number of eligible tickets issued |
Number of concessionary tickets issued |
Total number of ticket issued |
|
53 Seat Vehicle |
31 |
22 |
53 |
|
16 Seat Vehicle |
14 |
0 |
14 |
|
55 Seat Vehicle |
54 |
0 |
54 |
|
55 Seat Vehicle |
35 |
20 |
55 |
|
49 Seat Vehicle |
28 |
21 |
49 |
|
51 Seat Vehicle |
45 |
2 |
47 |
4 mainstream concessionary pupils were unsuccessful in obtaining concessionary seats. All eligible on time applicants and ticket request pupils have been accommodated with tickets for the 2022/2023 school year.