Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
332. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education if she will engage with Bus Éireann to address the situation of children who availed of school transport via the 166 service from Dundalk to Inniskeen and Carrickmacross (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40148/23]
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.
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.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and 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.
Bus Éireann have advised that there are currently 14 eligible pupils that use the service referred to by the Deputy. The timetable of this service was changed by the National Transport Authority effective from 27th August 2023. An email was sent to all affected families regarding this on Friday 1st September 2023. Bus Éireann has further advised that they are continuing to work with procurement to provide a dedicated service for the pupils.
In the meantime, School Transport Section are liaising with Bus Éireann with regard to the details of the children affected in order to offer a grant toward the cost of private transportation.
