Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
518. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if school transport can be extended for children (details supplied) in Creeslough, County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14877/24]
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 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.
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 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 a random selection process.
Routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis.
Families who wish to avail of school transport and have their eligibility status assessed should apply on-line in a timely manner to Bus Éireann on their website at www.buseireann.ie.
The closing date for school transport applications for the 2024/2025 School Year is on or before Friday, 26th April 2024 and the closing date for payment is on or before 7th June 2024.
Bus Éireann has advised that the 4 children to whom the Deputy refers are attending their closest school which is 2.5km from home to school, for this reason they are not currently eligible for school transport.
Bus Éireann has further advised that school transport tickets were issued to each of these pupils in August 2023 for the 2023/24 School year.
The tickets have not been utilised and 4 seats currently remain available on the service from the pick up point which is 1.8km from the family home.
As the Deputy may be aware, a review of the School Transport Scheme has been completed. This review was conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness, and sustainability and to ensure it services students and their families adequately. The School Transport 2030 report has now been published, which marks the largest review of the School Transport Scheme since it was established in 1967. The Government is committed to working to achieve the report’s recommendation of expanding access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030. Overall the recommended changes to the future operation of the Scheme concern expansion of the current eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges, charges and grants and over time, moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure optimum value for money to the Exchequer.
A phased implementation of the review’s recommendations will commence in September 2024. It is intended subject to resources to commence implementing the revised eligibility criteria in the 2025/2026 school year.
