Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
665. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if school transport will be provided to siblings (details supplied) considering that this family has been availing of the school transport service since 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38382/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
There was 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 were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
Under the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 3.2kms from and are attending their nearest Primary School as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
All children who are eligible for school transport and who completed the application and payment process on time will be accommodated on school transport services for the 2023/24 school year where such services are in operation. The closing date for applications for the 2023/24 school year was Friday 28th April 2023. The payment closing date was Friday 9th June 2023.
Bus Éireann have confirmed that, the family to whom the Deputy refers to, are eligible for school transport. The family did not complete the payment process before the closing date of 9th June 2023. This was completed on 2nd August 2023. The service is now operating to capacity with no seats available.
