Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 April 2024
209. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if a school bus route which provides transport to a school (details suppled) will be adjusted and the route changed, in order that children living in a particular area can be collected outside of their home; the reasons previous correspondence to Bus Éireann on this matter have not received a reply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18679/24]
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.
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 is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes on behalf of the Department. Safety of children travelling on the school transport services is of paramount importance to the Department and to Bus Éireann. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.
Home pick-ups are not a general feature of the Primary or Post Primary Schemes. Where practicable, and subject to considerations of cost and logistics, routes are planned to avoid an eligible post primary child having to travel more than 3.2 kilometres to or from a pick up/set down point.
Bus Éireann advise that the pupils referred to by the Deputy are eligible for transport as they are attending their nearest post primary school. They reside 2 kilometres from their home to the pick up point which is within the guidelines of the scheme.
Bus Éireann have reviewed this request and advise it is not possible to extend the route to do a home pick up for these pupils as to do so would inconvenience other pupils and the road is not suitable for the vehicle to travel on.
