Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 September 2023
244. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) did not receive their school bus ticket for the 2023/2024 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41069/23]
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.
Bus Éireann has reported that unfortunately, for a small number of families assigned to school transport services, a number of difficulties have arisen in some localities with just under 2% of contracted services nationally affecting less then 2% of those pupils who have been issued with a ticket. These services were secured for the 2023/2024 school year however, Bus Éireann was informed at the last minute that due to driver/contractor unavailability, services could not commence as expected. These services are not cancelled, and the Bus Éireann School Transport team is working intensively to ensure that transport arrangements are put in place as soon as possible.
Bus Éireann have advised that of the two routes that have been affected in the area mentioned by the Deputy, one route recommenced on the 18th September 2023 and the other route is due to resume on 25th September 2023.
