Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 October 2022
403. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if a school transport ticket will be allocated to a student (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48587/22]
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.
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.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy in this case is eligible for transport as they are attending their nearest school.
An application for transport was first received for this pupil on 06/05/2021 for the 2021/22 school year and was carried forward to the 2022/23 school year. 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.
