Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 March 2023
118. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if her Department will publish the details of all the actions it is undertaking to ensure sufficient numbers of school buses and drivers on the school transport scheme for the coming academic year, so that children are not left behind as is the case in north Kildare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15604/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 147,900 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 4,500 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Under the terms of the Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport 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 complete the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation for the 2023/24 school year.
In addition, temporary alleviation measures have been continued for the 2023/2024 school year(s), pending completion of the review and this means that transport will be provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who apply and pay by the closing dates.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who complete the application process on time, are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process. Where there is a transport service available, Bus Éireann liaise with families regarding ticketing.
The School Transport Scheme is a demand led scheme, Bus Éireann organises for vehicles to be full to capacity with tickets based on eligible applications received and based on the seating capacity of the vehicle.
Bus Éireann have confirmed that all eligible pupils who applied and registered on time for the 2022/23 school year have been facilitated on transport where it is in operation. The families referred to by the Deputy who have applied for transport in this area are attending their third and fourth closest schools and are therefore, not eligible for transport. In cases where the Department is satisfied that a family's nearest school is full, eligibility for school transport will be determined based on the distance they reside from the next nearest school having regard to ethos and language. Families have been requested to provide the details below which have not yet been received in School Transport Section.
- The steps taken to enroll your child in the nearest and next nearest schools
- Evidence that an application for enrolment was made within the deadline dates specified by the school and
- A letter from the School Authorities confirming that the school was full at the time of enrollment for your child
This documentation can be sent to school transport section at the address below for consideration to school_transport@education.gov.ie
