Sean Fleming
Question:454. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education if she will address a matter in relation to school transport (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12303/24]
View answerWednesday, 20 March 2024
Questions (454, 455)
Sean Fleming
Question:455. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education if a reply will issue to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12309/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 454 and 455 together.
The 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 traveling 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 school transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.
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.
In order to be assessed for school transport, families should apply and pay on time by the deadline dates for application and payment/input medical card details. These dates are usually announced on buseireann.ie/schooltransport, gov.ie/schooltransport and various other platforms.
Bus Éireann confirmed that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is eligible to the school they are attending and were issued a ticket in July 2023 for the 2023/24 school year.
Bus Éireann advise that this pupil resides 900metres from the pick up point of their current school transport service. This is deemed to be a reasonable level of service under the terms of the scheme. Bus Éireann further advise that the pick-up point referred to by the Deputy is considered to be as safe as other pick-up points being used by children travelling under the School Transport Scheme throughout the country. Parents or guardians are expected to make suitable arrangements to bring their children to and from the school bus, taking whatever safety precautions they may deem necessary to do so.
Bus Éireann confirmed that the service referred to caters for 2 schools within the post primary centre referred and the 10 minute wait in the evenings is due to traffic between school pick ups.
Question No. 455 answered with Question No. 454.