Seán Sherlock
Ceist:914. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the case of children in County Kildare (details supplied) and their lack of school transport. [43240/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 8 September 2022
Ceisteanna (914)
Freagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 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 €289m in 2021.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
In addition, temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level will be continued for the 2022/2023 school year pending completion of the review of the School Transport Scheme. This will mean that transport arrangements will continue to be provided for a number of post-primary students who are attending their second nearest school, who have applied and registered on time and who live more than 4.8km from their nearest school.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
In relation to the first family raised by the Deputy, Bus Éireann have advised that the pupil(s) referred to are not eligible for transport as they are attending their third closest school. A ticket request was received for this pupil on 17/07/2022, however this pupil was unsuccessful in obtaining a concessionary seat for the 2022/23 school year.
The existing school transport service is currently operating to capacity and there are no seats available. at present.
In relation to the second family raised by the Deputy, Bus Éireann have advised that the pupil(s) attending primary school are eligible for transport as they are attending their nearest school. A ticket request was submitted for these pupils on 24/08/2022.
The pupils from this family that are attending post primary school are eligible for transport as they are attending their Post Primary Centre. A ticket request was submitted for these pupils on 24/08/2022 which is deemed late, however Bus Éireann are in the process of ascertaining if there is spare capacity to accommodate these pupils.
In relation to the third family raised by the Deputy, Bus Éireann have advised that the pupil(s) referred to are not eligible for transport as they are attending their third closest school. A ticket request was received for this pupil on 20/07/2022, however this pupil was unsuccessful in obtaining a concessionary seat for the 2022/23 school year.
The existing school transport service is currently operating to capacity and there are no seats available at present.
In relation to the fourth family raised by the Deputy, Bus Éireann have advised that the pupil is not eligible for transport as they do not meet the distance criteria. A ticket request was received for this pupil on 21/07/2022, however this pupil was unsuccessful in obtaining a concessionary seat for the 2022/23 school year.
The existing school transport service is currently operating to capacity and there are no seats available at present.
In relation to the fifth family raised by the Deputy, Bus Éireann have advised that the pupil(s) are eligible for transport as they are attending their nearest school. Ticket requests were received for these pupils on 24/08/2022 and tickets will be issued to these pupils in due course.