Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 July 2017
162. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the nearest school rule under the school transport scheme in order to take into account the impact this rule has on students living in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33348/17]
View answerSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
This approach complements the overall Department policy which is to ensure that specific school accommodation needs for defined geographical areas are addressed in an orderly fashion.
While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport is determined by the distance they reside from their nearest school.
It is important that the terms of the School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
