Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 September 2022
313. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if a bigger school bus can be sanctioned for a school bus route (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44725/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the coming school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.
Ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.
Bus Éireann has advised that the eligible children from the area referred to by the Deputy have been accommodated on school transport services for the 2022/23 school year.
Children who are not eligible but 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 Éireann has advised that one concessionary child was issued a ticket on board this service and two concessionary children were unsuccessful in obtaining concessionary tickets for the 2022/23 school year as the capacity on this service is full.
