Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2017
88. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 121 of 10 October 2017, if a medical card will cover payment for concessionary school transport offered in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45441/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
During the 2016/17 school year almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, were 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.
Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest Post Primary School/Education Centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Bus Éireann has advised that the child in question is not attending her nearest post primary school and is therefore not eligible for school transport.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only. Concessionary transport is subject to a number of terms and conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service and payment of the annual charge.
Only children who are eligible for school transport and who hold valid medical cards (GMS Scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge.
The terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
