Michael McNamara
Ceist:165. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education if she will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28639/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 26 May 2021
Ceisteanna (165)
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 my Department’s School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2kms at primary and 4.8kms at post-primary and are attending their nearest School/Education Centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
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 may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only. Concessionary transport is subject to a number of terms and conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service. The availability of concessionary transport may vary from year to year and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s education cycle. Routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis.
Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Routes are planned and updated on the basis of the locations of children who are eligible for school transport.
Bus Éireann has confirmed that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for school transport as the pupil is not attending their closest school. Bus Éireann has also advised that this pupil is availing of transport on a service that was established as an addtional service in order to provide for social distancing, on which this pupil received a concessionary ticket . Furthermore Bus Éireann has advised there is no other service closer to the pupil to avail of as it is full to capacity.