Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2023
284. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education her views on the school transport application of a person (details supplied); if, given that the person must travel further than 6 km to their children’s school, they can be reconsidered; to outline what other options are available to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32229/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
There has been an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the current 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Under the terms of my Department’s School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2kms at primary and 4.8kms at post-primary and are attending their nearest 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 complete the application process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation or offered a remote area grant where there is no service in place.
Bus Éireann has advised that the family referred to by the Deputy are eligible for school transport, however they were deemed as not eligible in error due to a technical fault on their digital mapping system.
Bus Éireann also advise that the family first applied on 28/03/2019 for the 2019-20 school year and that there has been no service to accommodate the pupils referred since making their application.
Since there is no service available from where the pupils referred reside to the school they are attending, and they are eligible for school transport, the family will be offered a Remote Area Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements from the commencement of the 2019-20 school year.
Grants are paid at the end of the school year, and School Transport Section of my Department will liaise directly with the family referred with regard to this matter.
