Jackie Cahill
Ceist:462. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education if she will address complaints regarding school bus runs (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11035/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 1 March 2022
Ceisteanna (462)
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 121,400 children, including over 15,500 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 €289m in 2021.
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 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 school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than 3.2 kilometres to travel to a pick-up point. Parents or guardians are expected to make suitable arrangements to bring their children to and from the school bus.
Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes on behalf of my Department. Safety of children travelling on the school transport services is of paramount importance to the Department and to Bus Éireann. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.
Pupils who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis in accordance with the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme and are subject to a number of conditions including that 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 and no additional State cost will be incurred.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pick-up point referred to by the Deputy is considered to be as safe as other pick-up points being used by children travelling under the School Transport Scheme throughout the country. Accordingly, there are no proposals to change the current route.