Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 June 2023
210. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if her Department will examine and act upon the information outlined in correspondence from a person (details supplied), in relation to their experience regarding the nearest available school, to ensure that in this coming academic year, children are guaranteed the bus places they need on the basis of eligibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29007/23]
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 149,000 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 5,000 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine. The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9 million.
The purpose of the Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
A review of the School Transport Scheme commenced in February 2021. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and sustainability, and to ensure that it serves students and their families adequately.
Phase 1 of the review examined the impact of eligibility criteria on mainstream pupils who were eligible for transport to their nearest school but attending their next nearest school. The report was completed in June 2021.
Following consideration of this report, for the 2021/2022 school year, the provision of temporary alleviation measures was approved for transport for post-primary students who are otherwise eligible for school transport, but were attending their second nearest school and had applied and paid on time. These measures continued for the 2022/2023 school year, and will again continue in the 2023/2024 school year pending completion of the review.
For the 2023/2024 school year, these measures mean 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 applied for school transport by the 28th April 2023 and pay for a ticket/enter medical card details by 9 June 2023.
Phase two of the review has progressed significantly and is being completed in tandem with phase three which is well underway.
For the 2023/2024 school year, it remains that children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 km from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 km 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 are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
In addition, as mentioned above, temporary alleviation measures have been continued for the 2023/2024 school year, pending completion of the review.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed 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.
Bus Éireann has advised that this family are not eligible for transport as they are attending their third nearest Post Primary Centre and in the current school year 2022/23 the existing service is at present operating to capacity.
Bus Éireann has also advised that applications and payment has been received on time for these pupils for the 2023/24 school year and that tickets will be allocated subject to the usual terms and conditions of mainstream concessionary transport.
If families have applied to attend their nearest school in regards to ethos and language and have been advised by the school authorities that it is full, my Department will consider if students can be deemed eligible for transport to the next nearest school.
To establish that the nearest school is full parents must provide:
The steps taken to enrol their 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 enrolment.
Families can submit details to the School Transport Section in the Department of Education at school_transport@education.gov.ie. To date School Transport Section has not received the required documentation detailed above from this family. In cases where the families are attending their third or fourth nearest school, the above documentation will be required for each school in turn. Families who require information in relation to the schools nearer to them can contact the School Transport Section at the above email address.
