Seán Sherlock
Ceist:623. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education if she will examine a matter (details supplied) regarding school transport. [42816/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 9 September 2021
Ceisteanna (623)
Freagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/2021 school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, were 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 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 primary school as determined by my 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 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 and who apply 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 Eireann has confirmed that the family, to whom the Deputy refers, resides 3.1kms from the school that they are attending therefore they are not eligible for school transport. School Transport Section has asked Bus Éireann to carry out a calibrated measurement on the route in question and will revert to the family when further information is available.