Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2020
163. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a response will issue in relation to a school transport issue (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3998/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra166. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a response will issue in relation to a school transport matter (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4034/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 166 together.
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department.
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.
In the current school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, are transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.
Under the terms of the scheme, children are eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria (3.2km at primary and 4.8km at post-primary) and are attending their nearest school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Distance eligibility is determined by Bus Éireann by measuring the shortest traversable route from the child’s home to the relevant school.
All children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application and payment process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only and may be facilitated where spare seats are available after eligible children have been accommodated. Where the number of ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for the spare seats using an agreed selection process.
School transport scheme services operating for the 2020/21 school year will be determined by the number of children who complete the application and payment process on time and are deemed eligible for school transport.
