Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 October 2022
393. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education when temporary alleviation measures will be provided for children (details supplied) on a school bus route who are concessionary ticket holders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48317/22]
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 child referred to by the Deputy who is attending the primary school referred to by the Deputy is eligible under the terms of the scheme, a ticket request was received for this child on 06th September 2022 and a ticket was issued to the pupil on 08th September 2022 on board a school transport service for the 2022/23 school year.
Bus Éireann also advise that the child referred to by the Deputy who is attending the post primary school mentioned is not attending their nearest post primary school/centre and is therefore not eligible for school transport under the terms of the school transport scheme. Bus Éireann further advise that an application for transport was first received for this pupil on 24/04/2018 for the 2018/19 school year and their application carried forward to up to and including the 2021/22 school year. This Family closed this pupils application on 14/09/2021 and no new application for transport has been received for this child for the 2022/23 school year.
