Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2020
465. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education if a student (details supplied) can be transferred on to a bus route that passes their house twice daily under the school transport scheme rather than having to travel over two kilometres to another route; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25240/20]
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 pupil referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport and a ticket was issued on the 11th August 2020. Bus Éireann has advised that effective from Tuesday the 22nd September 2020 the pupil will be accommodated on a service that passes the pupils home.
