Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 June 2017
167. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has made a decision not to grant Educate Together schools access to school transport; when this decision was made; if Educate Together schools were informed of such a decision; the basis on which this decision was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29214/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra168. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures Educate Together schools are expected to implement without access to school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29215/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra169. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department is refusing to recognise the ethos of a school (details supplied) for school transport purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29216/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 167 to 169, inclusive, together.
School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.
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 Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
In relation to school transport provision, ethos relates to religious ethos and is in the context of provision for minority religions.
The terms of the Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
