Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 October 2020
188. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education if Bus Éireann will supply a school bus service to a school (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28036/20]
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.
Under the terms of the Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
All children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time have been accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation for the 2020/2021 school year.
Children who apply but who are not eligible for school transport are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Bus Éireann has advised that pupils who reside in the area referred to by Deputy and are attending the school referred to are not eligible for school transport as it is not their closest school.
Pupils who reside in the area are catered for on a mainstream concessionary basis to the school referred to. Bus Éireann has confirmed that there are currently 4 seats available for pupils who wish to avail of the service on a concessionary basis and that currently there are 11 mainstream concessionary applications for which there has been no payment received.
