Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2024
881. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education to provide details of the number of children availing of the school transport programme in Wicklow for the school year 2024-25, including concessionary; the number of routes available to students; the number of additional buses and drivers in place for this upcoming term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33759/24]
View answerThe 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 are being transported on a daily basis to schools throughout the country.
This figure comprises over 135,000 pupils travelling on mainstream services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine
The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.
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.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.
Parents of children wishing to avail of school transport services are required to apply on-line to Bus Éireann’s website at buseireann.ie/schooltransport
The closing date for new applications for the school year 2024/25 was 26 April 2024 and the closing date for payment was 07 June 2024.
Families may still apply for school transport following this date, but if the application or payment is late they may not secure a seat on a service and will not be considered for a remote area grant.
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.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time (apply on time and pay on time) are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where there is capacity to do so.
Children who are not eligible but who apply for school transport are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places. In these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
Temporary Alleviation Measures (TAMS) at post primary level are continued for the current school year. Under these measures, transport will be provided where there is a route in operation and where capacity exists for concessionary post primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school, are attending their second nearest school and who applied and paid on time.
As the School Transport Scheme is a demand led scheme, routes are planned depending on the new and existing applications and payments received. Bus Éireann are currently assessing all applications and planning for routes and services for the 2024/25 school year following the closing date for payments. Once routes have been finalised, Bus Éireann will assign tickets for each vehicle. Tickets will begin to issue in mid-July and will continue to issue throughout July and August. Families who are unsuccessful in obtaining a seat will be notified via email and a refund will issue.
