Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 October 2023
221. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if suitable transport can be identified for a total of 25 children (details supplied) to attend the school in view of the large number involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44735/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 133,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the start of the 2022/2023 school year. The number of tickets issued so far has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
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 and capacity exists.
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.
Bus Éireann has advised in relation to the matter referred to by the Deputy that there is no service from the first area mentioned to the school referred to by the Deputy.
Bus Éireann have further advised pupils that reside in the second area and attend the school referred to, are attending their third, fourth or fifth closest school depending on their individual addresses. There is one service operating from the area to the school referred which is a large 53 seater bus. Bus Eireann have further advised that this service is currently operating to capacity.
