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School Transport

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2021

Tuesday, 6 July 2021

Ceisteanna (278)

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

278. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if school transport support will be secured for a child (details supplied) and other students who attend the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35785/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

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 complete the application and payment process on time will be accommodated on school transport services for the 2021/22 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 and may be facilitated where spare seats are available after eligible children have been accommodated. Where the number of ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available Bus Éireann allocates tickets for the spare seats using an agreed selection process.

Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is not attending their closest post primary centre, and is therefore not eligible for transport under the terms of the scheme. In addition, Bus Éireann has confirmed that the pupil had not completed the application and payment process on time for 2020/21 school year.

The application for the pupil in question was rolled over to the upcoming 2021/22 school year.

The pupil can apply for concessionary transport under the terms of the scheme.

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