Results 61-80 of 1,042,741 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Ruairi Ó Murchú OR speaker:Pearse Doherty OR speaker:David Stanton) in 'Committee meetings'
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)
Questions Nos. 17 to 21, inclusive, and 24 to 26, inclusive, taken with Written Answers.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)
School Transport
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)
David Stanton: 27. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current regulations with respect to students availing of school transport to a school which is their second-nearest school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23858/24]
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)
David Stanton: This is a related question on school transport to give the Minister an opportunity to outline the current regulations with respect to students availing of school transport to a school which is their second-nearest school.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)
Norma Foley: I will be repeating myself now. The school transport scheme is operated by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education, as we said. We have more than 161,600 young people availing of it. That figure is divided into children travelling on mainstream services and children with special educational needs who are travelling. The total cost of the scheme was in excess of...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)
David Stanton: I commend the Minister on the work she is doing in this area because there is huge potential here. To clarify, is she saying students can actually avail of transport to the second-nearest school at second level? That is one question. Has the Minister looked at a similar situation applying to primary school students? That is my second question. I think I have time left to put a third...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)
Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. The second-nearest school scheme is called the temporary alleviation measure, TAMS. It is in place currently and will be in place for the 2024-25 school year. I want to be clear in explaining what the TAMS actually means. Under that measure, transport is provided where there is a route in operation and where capacity exists for concessionary post-primary pupils who are...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)
David Stanton: I asked about the convoluted appeals system.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)
Norma Foley: Yes. The Deputy makes a fair point. If students are eligible and their first school is full, on receipt of verifying documentation the next school becomes the first school. I take the Deputy's point that people may not be sufficiently aware of that and it is something we should look at with regard to communication.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)
David Stanton: I thank the Minister for the response. The last point is really interesting because I have come across, as I am sure colleagues have as well, parents who are not aware of this appeals system to the board of management. Neither are they aware of the situation that if a student is put on a waiting list, it is a de facto refusal. As the student is not offered a place, it is a refusal from the...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)
Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. To be fair, parents or guardians sometimes have a variety of reasons as to why it is necessary for them to bring their children to school or drive them to school. The reasons can be multifaceted and complex and parents and guardians should always have that freedom. Notwithstanding that, I know there are many parents who are very keen to be in a position to avail of the...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Curriculum (28 May 2024)
Questions Nos. 10 and 11 taken with Written Answers.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)
School Transport
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)
Rose Conway-Walsh: 12. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there can be flexibility in the 1 km rule for school transport where a number of children are forced to walk a narrow and dangerous road with no footpath to reach the current collection point; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23899/24]
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)
Rose Conway-Walsh: This question should refer to the 2.4 km rule and the case I have of children having to walk more than 1 km on a narrow and dangerous road. This is in the Boleyglass and Derryfada areas. I want to raise the issue of pick-up points. Children from a number of different households are all walking down the same narrow, dangerous road to the pick-up point. Can that be moved to accommodate them...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)
Norma Foley: The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year more than 161,600 children are being transported on a daily basis to schools throughout the country. This figure comprises more than 135,000 pupils travelling on mainstream services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)
Rose Conway-Walsh: The issue is with regard to the pick-up points and to the common sense that is needed around this to ensure the health and safety of children. I know the Minister would agree with that. The school transport system is plagued by a lack of flexibility in an number of ways. As the Minister knows, the system needs to be reformed. We all know that the scheme is not a door-to-door service but...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)
Norma Foley: To be fair, the Deputy did not reference the route when the question was submitted. I will revert to her on this specific case. I will ask for it to be looked at.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)
Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Can we leave it at that then?
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)
Rose Conway-Walsh: I really do appreciate that. I will give the Minister the postcodes and all of the other necessary information to be able to look at the issue.