Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 January 2018
368. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the case of a person (details supplied) under the school transport scheme will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54911/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently over 115,000 children, including almost 12,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 4,500 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;
- routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis; no additional State cost will be incurred.
Bus Éireann has confirmed that there are spare seats available on an existing service, on a concessionary basis.
The terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
