Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2021
294. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education if the case of a child (details supplied) who has not received a ticket for a school bus will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59793/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 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.
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. 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 pupils referred to by the Deputy are not attending their closest Post Primary Centre, and are therefore not eligible for transport under the terms of the scheme. Bus Éireann has also advised that the pupils were unsuccessful in obtaining a seat for the 2021/22 school year. Payment for the pupils in question was received on the 30th July 2021 for the 21/22 school year and a refund was issued on the 3rd September 2021.
In line with the lifting of restrictions on public transport, and with effect from the return of schools following the October mid-term break, implementation commenced for post-primary school transport services to resume operating at 100% capacity. This process will take a period of time to re-organise and re-schedule services and communications will be issued to families regarding any revised arrangements. Where additional vehicles that were provided for social distancing purposes are removed, any spare capacity available may be offered on those services to concessionary pupils or late applicants where such capacity exists.
