Peadar Tóibín
Question:312. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education if she will examine a school transport application (details supplied). [16331/24]
View answerTuesday, 16 April 2024
Questions (312)
Written answers
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 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.
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.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who complete the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
The Bus Éireann family portal is now open for new applications for school transport services for the 2024/25 school year. The closing date for new applications is Friday 26 April 2024. Any new applications made after the closing date are considered late applications. A late application may mean that a ticket is not available.
Distance eligibility is determined by measuring the shortest traversable route from a child's home to the relevant school. The shortest traversable route between a child's home and the relevant school may be either a pedestrian or vehicular route.
Officials in School Transport Section have requested that Bus Éireann investigate the matter referred to by the Deputy. They have advised that they will measure the route and will liaise with the family directly.