Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
258. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the number of school transport appeals on file, by county, in tabular form; and if there is a date for a decision given the school year has started. [39602/23]
View answerThe 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.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
Decisions made by, or on behalf of, the Department of Education regarding the provision of school transport services and/or grant-aid under the terms of the School Transport Schemes may be appealed to the School Transport Appeals Board.
This Board is independent in the performance of it’s functions but acts in accordance with (a) its Terms of Reference as determined by the Minister and (b) a set of Operating Procedures.
A total of 1,035 appeals have been received to date for 2023/2024 school, of which 899 appeals were received since July. Of the total appeals received, 716 are awaiting their consideration. The table below outlines the appeals awaiting consideration by county, in tabular form.
The Board meet once per month, however they may be required to carry out additional meetings where necessary where a large volume of appeals are received.
Totals for Consideration by County (716)
|
COUNTY |
NUMBER FOR CONSIDERATION |
|
Carlow |
5 |
|
Cavan |
23 |
|
Clare |
22 |
|
Cork |
179 |
|
Donegal |
8 |
|
Dublin |
23 |
|
Galway |
60 |
|
Kerry |
12 |
|
Kildare |
79 |
|
Kilkenny |
41 |
|
Laois |
15 |
|
Leitrim |
5 |
|
Limerick |
13 |
|
Longford |
5 |
|
Louth |
16 |
|
Mayo |
12 |
|
Meath |
44 |
|
Monaghan |
9 |
|
Offaly |
14 |
|
Roscommon |
18 |
|
Sligo |
6 |
|
Tipperary |
28 |
|
Waterford |
9 |
|
Westmeath |
21 |
|
Wexford |
33 |
|
Wicklow |
16 |
|
TOTAL |
716 |
