Kathleen Funchion
Question:169. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education if she will source drivers for an organisation (details supplied) for children going to school in Ballyragget, County Kilkenny. [43406/23]
View answerTuesday, 10 October 2023
Questions (169)
Written answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year 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.
The details supplied indicate that the service in question is a private service operating outside the Scheme over which the Department and Bus Éireann has no remit. Funding is not provided to private contractors providing services outside of the school transport scheme.
Should the Deputy wish to provide further information relating to the school(s) of attendance for which these services are provided, School Transport can investigate the matter further with Bus Éireann.