Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 September 2018
178. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the allocation of a second school bus route will be ensured for students attending schools (details supplied) in order to accommodate the 31 eligible students who are without transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38419/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
In the 2017/18 school year over 117,000 children, including over 12,000 children with special educational needs, were 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 at a total cost of almost €190 million in 2017.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time have been accommodated on school transport services for the current school year where such services are in operation.
A number of children who are eligible for school transport from the area referred to by the Deputy were late in submitting their payment details and the service is now operating to capacity.
The terms of the School Transport Schemes are applied equitably on a national basis.
