Robert Troy
Ceist:79. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if she will further review an appeal for school transport assistance by a person (details supplied). [20912/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 22 April 2021
Ceisteanna (79)
Freagraí scríofa
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.
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 Post-Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest school/education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport is to the nearest school.
All children who are eligible for school transport and who completed the application and payment process on time have been accommodated on school transport services for the 2020/21 school year where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Concessionary transport may vary from year to year and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s post primary school education cycle. Where the number of applications for transport on a concessionary basis exceeds the number of seats available, Bus Éireann determines the allocation of the tickets and refunds payments made on behalf of those concessionary applicants for whom no seats remain.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupils referred to by the Deputy are not eligible for transport as they are not attending their nearest school. The pupils were not successful in obtaining a concessionary seat for the 2020/2021 school year.
Payment for transport was received for this pupil on 07/09/2020. A refund was issued to this family on 17/12/2020.
All school transport services are reviewed over the summer months. Arising from this review, routes may be altered, extended or withdrawn depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.
In relation to any concerns regarding safety issues when travelling to a school bus pick up location, there is an onus of responsibility on parents/guardians to arrange to bring any pupil availing of a school transport service, to and from that pick-up point of that school bus service, taking whatever safety precautions they consider sufficient in doing so, and accompanying the children to ensure their safety and allay any concern.