Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 June 2023
66. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if an application for a school bus ticket will be considered in the case of the daughter of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31414/23]
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.
There has been an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services have been provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Children are eligible for school transport 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.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
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 a random selection process.
Bus Éireann has advised that the child referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for transport as they do not meet the distance criteria under the rules of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme. This pupil resides less than the required 4.8km distance from their home to their school of attendance.
Bus Éireann has also advised there is an existing service available to this pupil. An application and payment has been received on time for the 2023/24 school year. Bus Éireann will begin issuing tickets to eligible pupils from July, any remaining seats will be offered to concessionary pupils in line with mainstream concessionary terms and conditions.
