Thomas Gould
Question:298. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education if she will sanction an additional school bus from Upper Glanmire to a school (details supplied). [36346/24]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2024
298. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education if she will sanction an additional school bus from Upper Glanmire to a school (details supplied). [36346/24]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were 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.
Over 140,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 3% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 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.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 km from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 km from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time (apply on time and pay on time) are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where there is capacity to do so.
Children who are not eligible but who apply for school transport are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places. In these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
Temporary Alleviation Measures (TAMS) at post primary level are continued for the current school year. Under these measures, transport will be provided where there is a route in operation and where capacity exists for concessionary post primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school, are attending their second nearest school and who applied and paid on time.
Bus Éireann has advised there are currently four services operating to the school in question for the 2024/25 school year, carrying a total of 160 pupils. This figure is made up of 87 eligible, 11 TAMs and 62 concessionary pupils.
Concessionary pupils who have missed out on selection in the agreed selection process are attending their 3rd, 4th or 5th closest Post Primary Centre. All paid on time, eligible and TAMs pupils have already been catered for with existing capacity for 2024/25 School year.