Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
629. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education when school transport will be provided for a pupil (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that the bus service is only being availed of by one pupil at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22543/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were 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.
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.
The closing date for payment for the 2020/2021 school year was Tuesday 4th August 2020. All children who are eligible for school transport and who applied and paid by the deadline have been accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Bus Éireann has advised that the application for the pupil referred to by the Deputy was carried forward up to the 2019/20 school year. According to their records, this pupil was input into their system as a 6th year student in the 2019/20 school year and therefore their application did not carry forward to the 2020/21 school year. The family in this case were notified by Bus Éireann of their need to reapply if they wished to avail of transport for the 2020/21 school year. However, no application has been received to date for this pupil for the 2020/21 school year.
