Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
328. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education if she will advise on the case of a child (details supplied) regarding a school transport pickup point; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40130/23]
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.
Children are eligible for transport at post 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.
Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes on behalf of the Department. Safety of children travelling on the school transport services is of paramount importance to the Department and to Bus Éireann. 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.
Routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than 3.2 kilometres to travel to a pickup point. Children are generally expected to make their own way, or to be brought to convenient pickup points along the main route.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for mainstream transport as they are 4.0 kilometres from home to school and do not meet the distance criteria under the Post Primary School Scheme.
An application and payment was received on time for this pupil for the 2023/24 school year and a ticket was issued.
Bus Éireann have advised that the pickup point is 2.1 kilometres from the home of the family referred to by the Deputy. The local area inspector is currently assessing this pickup point and will inform the parent of any resulting modifications.
