Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2024
287. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 75 of 27 September 2023, if she will establish if Bus Éireann has completed a review of the route in question, as the family has not received any contact from Bus Éireann or the school transport section in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4173/24]
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 €382.02m. 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 my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Under the terms of my Department’s School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2kms at primary and 4.8kms at post-primary and are attending their nearest 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 complete the application process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation. Children who are eligible for school transport but for whom no service is available may be offered the Remote Area Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements. The Remote Area Grant is also payable for eligible children who may have to travel 3.2kms or more to or from a designated pick up/set down point.Bus Éireann have advised that the children referred to by the Deputy are eligible for school transport, however there is no service available from where these pupils reside to the schools they are attending. Bus Éireann further advise that the pick up point for the family referred is 4.5 km away from their home. An inspection was carried out on this route and unfortunately the pick up point cannot be moved any closer to the family's residence. The family referred to by the Deputy are eligible for a remote area grant from their home to the pick up point. Grants are paid at the end of the school year, and School Transport Section of my Department will liaise with the family referred at the time in this regard.
