Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
634. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if her Department will consider some flexibility and work with families living in rural areas who are eligible for the school transport scheme to be able to avail of school bus services (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1390/24]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02 million.
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.
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.
Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes on behalf of the Department. Safety of children travelling on the school transport services is of paramount importance to the Department and to Bus Éireann. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.
Routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than 3.2 kilometres to travel to a pick-up point. Children are generally expected to make their own way, or to be brought to convenient pick-up points along the main route.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to resides 12.0 km from home to their closest school and school of attendance and is eligible for school transport. However, she resides 10.0 km from home to the nearest pick-up point. There is no suitable service available in the area to accommodate this pupil and, therefore, she will be included on Bus Éireann’s list for the Remote Area Grant from the 2023/24 School year. The route that is highlighted by the Deputy is currently running at full capacity. Further information in relation to the Remote Area Grant is available at: gov.ie/schooltransport.
