Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2024
368. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education to raise the latest query regarding a case with Bus Éireann (details supplied); if she can provide clarity on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16754/24]
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 complete 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.
The Bus Éireann family portal is now open for new applications for school transport services for the 2024/25 school year. The closing date for new applications is Friday 26 April 2024. Any new applications made after the closing date are considered late applications. A late application may mean that a ticket is not available.
The Bus Éireann family portal is now open to accept payments/medical card details until 7 June 2024. Payments/entering medical card details made after the deadline date will be deemed late. A late payment/entering of medical card details may mean that a ticket is not available.
Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.
Where practicable, and subject to considerations of cost and logistics, Post-Primary routes are planned to avoid an eligible child having to travel more than 3.2 kms to or from a pick up/set down point or to have travel and waiting times in excess of 2.5 hours per day. Routes are planned on the basis of the locations of children who are eligible for school transport only.
Bus Éireann have advised that the pupils in question would not be eligible for school transport as they do not meet the distance criteria of 4.8kms. The family reside 3.5kms from home to the school of attendance.
Bus Éireann further advise that the nearest pick up and set down point is 1.5kms from the family referred to, though another service with a set down point 1km from the family could be used in the afternoons only. There are no plans to alter this service for the 2024/25 school year.
Further to the above, Bus Éireann advise that a payment was received from this family for transport to the National School for the 2017/18 school year. The family are eligible to this school and a ticket issued but they did not use the service. Families who do not wish to use the school transport service can return their school transport ticket during the period of use, Bus Éireann further advise no ticket was returned from this family prior to or during the 2017/2018 school year.
