Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 September 2023
286. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Education how many school bus tickets applications were declined in County Wexford for the academic year 2023/2024 compared to the previous 2022/2023 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41524/23]
View answer287. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 629 of 11 September 2023, the total number of school transport applications deemed as concessionary applications in County Wexford for the 2023/2024 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41525/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 286 and 287 together.
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.
There has been an overall increase in both applications and tickets issued for the 2023/2024 school year in comparison to the 2022/2023 school year.
The purpose of the school transport scheme is to provide transport to pupils who qualify under the eligibility criteria of the scheme.
In relation to the Deputy's request for the total number of school transport applications deemed as concessionary applications in County Wexford and the number of school bus tickets applications that were declined in County Wexford for the academic year 2023/2024 compared to the previous 2022/2023 academic year; it is not possible to provide this information in the manner requested by the Deputy, as Bus Éireann continue to issue tickets to families where capacity is available.
Bus Éireann have advised however, that in Wexford they have issued 4,615 tickets to eligible pupils and 2,471 tickets to concessionary pupils to date at primary and post primary level for the 2023/24 school year to date. In comparison, 4,534 tickets issued to eligible pupils and 2,471 tickets issued to concessionary pupils in the 2022/23 school year.
