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School Transport

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023

Tuesday, 11 July 2023

Questions (278)

Marian Harkin

Question:

278. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if there is funding available for the provision of a bus for primary school students to an after-school facility (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33812/23]

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Written answers

The 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 current 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.

In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.

The School Transport Schemes are intended to cater for children providing school transport from home to school and from school to home during normal school opening and closing times.

Bus Éireann endeavours to ensure that a reasonable level of transport service is provided for each eligible child.

The request detailed by the Deputy is not a feature of the schemes and is outside of the School Transport remit.

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