Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
338. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education when an update will be issued to a school to ensure that a pupil (details supplied) will have an escort as part of their already-approved school transport application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40201/23]
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.
The Department of Education issue grant funding to schools for the employment of school bus escorts. School bus escorts are employed by each school through School Management Authorities. They are employed on board a school transport service provided through Bus Éireann where the child’s care and safety needs while on board the school transport are such as they require the support of an escort.
School Transport Section of my Department are currently liaising with the School Authorities in question with regard to escort support for the child referred to by the Deputy.
