Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 September 2016
296. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if pupils from Northern Ireland who have free medical cover can be deemed as eligible children for school transport on the same basis as medical card holders in cases where the child concerned is attending the nearest school; if he will issue clarification on the eligibility of children in Northern Ireland for free school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27295/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra297. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the school transport application of a person (details supplied) who lives in Northern Ireland and is attending his nearest Gaelscoil and had full medical cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27296/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 297 together.
School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
During the 2015/16 school year in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in approximately 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.
My Department is responsible for the provision of school transport within this jurisdiction.
In general, children are eligible for school transport if they are attending their nearest school and satisfy the requisite distance criteria.
Traditionally a small number of children travelling from Northern Ireland have been facilitated with concessionary school transport to schools in this jurisdiction. Under the terms of the Scheme, this concessionary transport is dependent on the availability of spare seats, subject to a charge, even if the child holds a valid medical card and the children must make their own way to a pick up point in this jurisdiction.
