Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 October 2023
298. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if a school bus, which drives through Clane daily, in order to get to Caragh can stop in Clane to pick up two children (details supplied) who have been allocated school transport tickets on the bus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46616/23]
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.
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 advise that a record of the pupils mentioned by the Deputy cannot be found on their application system with the details provided and therefore cannot advise on availability of school transport services.
Families who wish to avail of school transport and have their eligibility status assessed should apply on-line in a timely manner to Bus Éireann on Bus Éireann’s website at www.buseireann.ie.
The closing date for school transport applications for the 2023/24 School Year was Friday, 28 April 2023, however families may still apply for school transport following this date, but as the application would be late a seat may not be secured on a service and the family will not be considered for a remote area grant.
