Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
469. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that 14 pupils in a school (details supplied) have been refused concessionary bus tickets despite the fact that the bus has increased in size from last year; if she will take steps to assist the parents of these pupils, many of whom will be significantly inconvenienced by this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36361/23]
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 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 €338.9 million.
Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 km from and are attending their nearest school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who complete the application and payment 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 an agreed selection process.
Bus Éireann has advised that seats have been assigned to the school transport service on the route referred to by the Deputy for the 2023/2024 school year, they have also confirmed there was an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places on the route and some concessionary applicants will not receive tickets as the vehicle is at full capacity.
