Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 February 2024
162. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education her plans to expand the provision of school bus transport to a school in Glanmire, County Cork (details supplied); if she is aware of growing attendance at the school and interest in bus transport from surrounding areas, including Crawford Woods; how her Department intends to address this pressure on school bus transport to the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4921/24]
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.
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.
Any pupils/students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.
Temporary Alleviation Measures (TAMS) at post-primary level are continued for the current school year. Under these measures, transport will be provided where there is a route in operation and where capacity exists for concessionary post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied and paid on time.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only and will be facilitated where spare seats are available after eligible children have been accommodated. Where the number of ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for the spare seats using an agreed selection process.
Bus Éireann has advised that following a review of applications for pupils residing in the area outlined by the Deputy, pupils residing in this area were deemed eligible for school transport to their school of attendance. All pupils who applied and paid on time have been facilitated on a service. There are currently 3 services into the school in question, two of which serve the Glanmire area.
