Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 February 2024
144. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education the steps that can be taken in relation to a child (details supplied) who has been denied a school bus service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8540/24]
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.
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.
Bus Éireann operates school transport on behalf of the Department of Education and organise the issuing of tickets, routes, pickup and drop off times for children.
The pupil is mainstream eligible to their selected school as this is their closest school at 6.4 km away from the home.
Bus Éireann has advised that due to the child referred to by the Deputy changing address at the end of January 2024, there are now no transport options available to facilitate them on an existing service at times that align with the school opening hours.
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.
Grants are paid at the end of the school year and is based on their attendance for that particular school year.
It is open to the family to directly contact school transport section of my Department to discuss this matter further.
