Brian Stanley
Ceist:48. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education to insist that county-based co-ordinators are put in place for school transport to avoid the problems that arise each year with the scheme. [42410/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 17 October 2023
Ceisteanna (48)
Freagraí scríofa
The 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.
Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents and both have dedicated members of staff assigned to each county.
Contact details and information was circulated via in information note to all Oireachtas members in August in an effort to assist with any queries that may arise.
As outlined in the above mentioned information note, Bus Éireann has put in place a dedicated customer care call centre and a ‘contact form’ on buseireann.ie/schooltransport to assist families specifically with School Transport queries during the busy summer period. Families that have queries can contact the call centre on: LoCall 0818 919 910. Operating hours are 09.00 – 17.00 Monday to Friday.
Bus Éireann also have a dedicated email address for public representatives to contact them with any queries: oireachtas@buseireann.ie.
Both Bus Éireann’s and my Department’s School Transport Section have officials in place who manage school transport queries in relation to specific counties. The officers liaise with families, school principals, and Oireachtas Members regularly. In addition, Bus Éireann employ local inspectors who liaise closely with families, contractors, and school staff at a local level. Contact details of Department of Education officials are published on gov.ie/schooltransport .