Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
709. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if the case of a student (details supplied) will be reviewed by Bus Éireann with a view to the issuing of bus tickets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38769/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. 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 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 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.
Children are eligible for transport at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest Post Primary Centre having regard to ethos and language.
In addition, pending completion of the outcome of the full review of the School Transport Scheme, Temporary Alleviation Measures (TAM) at post-primary level will be continued for the 2023/2024 school year. Under these measures, which were initially introduced in 2019, transport will provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied and paid for a ticket on time.
Bus Éireann has re-checked the distance from home of family referred to by the Deputy to school of attendance referred and advised that The pupil referred resides 8.8km from home to school of attendance, the pupils 2nd closest school. They also advise that the pupil resides 8.4 km from home to their closest school.
Bus Éireann further advise that this family are not attending their nearest Post Primary Centre, however as the family are attending their 2nd nearest Post Primary Centre, under the Temporary Alleviation Measures a concessionary ticket issued to the family on the 28th July 2023 for the 2023/24 school year.
