Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 January 2011
164 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if school pupils with bus passes in rural areas where school buses are not currently running because of icy and snow-covered roads, may use their tickets to avail of Bus Éireann services to travel to schools in areas where parents can travel to the nearest pick-up town or village; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48127/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraBus Éireann operates the school transport services on behalf of my Department, while the operation of Bus Éireann public passenger services does not come under the remit of my Department.
The organisation of school transport services is a major logistical operation which involves the planning of bus routes in such a way as to ensure that, as far as possible, eligible pupils have a reasonable level of service while, at the same time, ensuring that school transport vehicles are fully utilised in an efficient and cost effective manner. Safety of children travelling on the school transport services is of paramount importance to my Department and to Bus Éireann.
Bus Éireann informed local and national media of developments regarding availability of services during the latest severe weather event and is also part of the Inter-Agency Co-ordination Committee that managed the response.
Parents of eligible pupils who are affected by adverse weather conditions, as detailed by the Deputy, should liaise with the school authorities and the local Bus Éireann office regarding school openings and the availability of school transport services. Bus Éireann has advised that tickets issued under the School Transport Scheme are not general commuter style bus tickets for use on multiple services, but instead offer a seat on a specific service to and from school.
165 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if parents of school students who pay €300 per annum for school bus tickets will have a portion of the money refunded in rural areas where school buses have been unable to access for almost three weeks now due to recent snow and ice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48128/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school transport scheme, which is operated by Bus Éireann on my Department's behalf, facilitates the transportation of over 123,000 children to primary and post-primary schools each day including approximately 8,000 children with special educational needs.
School transport is a very significant national operation involving about 42 million journeys and over 82 million kilometres on 6,000 routes every school year. This service is delivered using a mix of BE, both school transport and road passenger vehicles, private contractor vehicles including private operator scheduled services, and Dublin Bus, Irish Rail, DART and LUAS where practical.
Post Primary pupils who are eligible for school transport under the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme pay €300 per annum subject to a maximum family charge of €650. Eligible pupils who hold valid medical cards are exempt from these charges.
These payments represent a contribution towards the overall cost of school transport and do not reflect the true economic cost of providing school transport services. There is no provision, within the terms of the scheme, to consider refunding a portion of these charges in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy.
