Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2024
285. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education what happens to parents who are unable to apply for a school transport ticket before the closing date of 26 April 2024 as their child has yet to be allocated a school place for secondary school for September 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17493/24]
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 are being transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. This figure includes over 135,000 children on mainstream services, 19,800 on children with special educational needs, and 6,800 children who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine.
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.
Any children 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.
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. The portal will also accept payments/medical card details until 7 June 2024. Families can apply after the deadline dates and if there is capacity on a service, and the pupils fall within the eligibility criteria, a ticket will issue. However a ticket cannot be guaranteed at that stage.
Families are urged to apply and pay/enter medical card details before the above deadline dates. Families are advised to apply for transport to the school that they wish their child to attend. It should be noted that the details submitted in the application can be amended at a later date if necessary, and the application will be deemed to be an on-time application if the original application was made before the closing date. Families are advised in such circumstances that they should amend the application and not cancel and re-submit the application, as to cancel and re-submit after the closing date would deem the application to be late. Normal eligibility criteria will continue to apply to any amended application.
