Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:171. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if a school bus issue will be addressed for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39642/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 8 October 2024
Ceisteanna (171)
Freagraí scríofa
The 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 the pupil to whom the Deputy refers is a mainstream eligible pupil and received a School Transport ticket on the 10th July 2024.
At present it is understood that this pupil is meeting the service at Brosna, which is 3.2km from their home. There is a closer pick up point at Knockane which is 0.6km from this pupils home which is the pick up point on their ticket.
Bus Éireann has advised that their local office will contact this family and advise them of the closer pick up point which is within guidelines under the post primary school transport scheme.