Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2024
83. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 523 of 20 March 2024, in respect of the stated objective of delivering a ‘reasonable level of school transport’, what this means regarding the maximum timeframe that it is considered appropriate for any child to spend on a school bus to travel to and from a special school. [16301/24]
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.
Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes on behalf of my Department. 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.
In relation to mainstream school transport, where practicable and subject to consideration of costs and logistics, routes are planned to avoid an eligible child having to travel more than 2.4 kms at primary level and 3.2 kms at post primary level to or from a pick up/set down point or to have travel and waiting times in excess of 1.5 hours at primary level and 2.5 hours at post primary level per day. Routes are planned on the basis of the locations of children who are eligible only.
In relation to pupils travelling on the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, it is not always possible to secure a suitable placement in a local school and children and occasionally required to travel some distance to their school of attendance, due to the specialist nature of the placement involved. However, if a concern is raised regarding the level of time a pupil is travelling on a service, this is investigated by School Transport Section and Bus Éireann and any adjustments that can be made to the service to reduce the travel time are examined.
If families have any particular queries they can contact School Transport Section directly at school_transport@education.gov.ie where officials in the Department will be happy to assist.
