Michael Healy-Rae
Question:289. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if a school bus service will be reinstated (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21346/24]
View answerTuesday, 14 May 2024
Questions (289)
Written answers
The 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.
A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.
Bus Éireann have advised that the pupils residing in the areas outlined by the Deputy and attending the school in question are not eligible for transport as it is not their closest school.
Bus Éireann have also advised that 11 applications have been received for the 2024/25 school year, 10 of these being new applications and 1 roll-over from the 2023/24 school year, who didn’t receive a ticket.
The nearest pick-up point for these pupils to an existing service from the area in question area is Tullig. Depending on where the pupils reside in the area, they can reside from 0.9km up to 2.1Km from this pick-up point.
The existing mainstream service is a 41-seat large vehicle with 25 mainstream eligible and 6 mainstream concessionary tickets issued on board for the current 2023/24 school year.
At present there does not appear to warrant the establishment of a new service from the area to which the pupils reside to this school as there are not 10 mainstream eligible pupils residing in the distinct locality.