Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 9 September 2024
586. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when a pupil (details supplied) who is eligible for school transport will be issued with a ticket for the school transport service, in view that they have not received a ticket to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34726/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were 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.
Over 140,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 3% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.
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.
Bus Éireann has advised that no application for school transport has been received for the pupil referred to by the Deputy and that an application should be made to the following link.
School Transport Application - public.flowforma.com/?token=OfHd8bEHNUjypR1J2ohyawPtOLA8xbJSVD02MsoVP7sPa83cAd.
Officials in my School Transport section have also liaised with the local Regional Education and Language Support Team (REALT) co-ordinator in regards to assisting the family with making the application.
