Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 September 2023
159. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if two siblings (details supplied) in County Mayo can be accommodated on the return journey from school in view of the fact that there are four confirmed vacant seats on the bus for this specific journey and the fact that the children have always availed of school transport and the obvious need for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40796/23]
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.
Bus Éireann has advised that the children referred to by the Deputy are eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme but were unsuccessful in obtaining a seat on board a school transport service for the 2023/24 school year as they paid late and all existing services in this area are currently operating at capacity. Family should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office in Ballina with regard to the availability of the afternoon service referred.
