Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

During the 2014-15 school year Bus Éireann discovered that a number of children had been incorrectly assessed as being eligible for school transport, a matter that was discussed previously with the Deputy, and were availing of free transport because they held valid medical cards. The families were informed of this error. They were also advised by Bus Éireann that from the 2015-16 school year these children may only avail of school transport on a concessionary basis. Transport on a concessionary basis is subject to a number of conditions, including payment of the annual charge.

Bus Éireann determines distance eligibility by measuring the shortest traversable route which may be either pedestrian or vehicular from a family's home to their nearest school. The main purpose of this measurement is to identify the distance families reside from their nearest school and assess if they meet the distance eligibility criterion for school transport. In the interests of equity, this is applied on a consistent standard basis across the country, irrespective of local circumstances that may impact on travel conditions on particular routes during parts of the year. The Deputy asked whether it was in the gift of the Minister to alter this. We had this discussion previously. The scheme must be fair throughout the country and that is what is happening. When an error occurs, it is corrected to ensure the scheme is implemented fairly across the board. That is the way it must be. The Deputy raised this issue previously and said parts of the route could not be traversed in winter. The bus route will not pass through the Mamore Gap because the route is planned to suit individuals eligible to use the bus service. Bus Éireann has stated it will not use that route, but it is still used to measure the distance from a school.

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