Seán Sherlock
Question:265. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date position with an appeal for a school bus in County Kildare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41396/23]
View answerTuesday, 26 September 2023
Questions (265)
Written answers
The 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 133,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the start of the 2022/2023 school year. The number of tickets issued so far 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.Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.Bus Éireann review all school transport services based on the number of applications received. Arising from this review, routes may be altered, extended or withdrawn depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.
Bus Éireann has advised that the child referred to by the Deputy resides 2.3 km from home to their nearest school and school of attendance. This child is not eligible for transport as they do not meet the distance criteria under the Primary School Transport Scheme.
Bus Éireann has further advised that this pupil was unsuccessful in obtaining a concessionary seat for the 2023/24 school year as the existing service is currently operating to capacity.
An appeal in respect of school transport for the family referred to by the Deputy has been lodged with the School Transport Appeals Board on 8th August 2023. The Board is independent of my Department and will liaise directly with the appellants when the appeal is due for consideration.