Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 October 2023
163. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education for an update on the provision of funding for transport for students (details supplied) to access off-site sports facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45643/23]
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.
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 same time last year. The number of tickets issued so far has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
The School Transport Schemes are intended to cater for children providing school transport from home/pick up point to school and from school to home/drop off point during normal school opening and closing times.
Bus Éireann endeavours to ensure that a reasonable level of transport service is provided for each eligible child.
Funding is not provided to private contractors operating outside of the school transport scheme. The request detailed by the Deputy is not a feature of the schemes and is therefore outside of the School Transport remit.
