Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 October 2022
189. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that a person (details supplied) will continue to be provided with transport and issued a bus ticket given that State-provided school transport is their only means of getting to school; if she will review the circumstances of this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48820/22]
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, are 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 children referred to by the Deputy are eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme and did not complete the ticket registration process by the closing date of 29 July. However, Bus Éireann has advised due to available capacity on the service both children have been issued a ticket on board a school transport service for the 2022/23 school year.
