Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 134: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will report on the operation of the school transport system in the catchment area of a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reason there are not enough places available for all students who need them on the school transport scheme in this catchment area; if Bus Éireann or the VEC are in charge of seat allocation for the school transport scheme in this catchment area; the reason students in this recognised catchment area whose siblings have been allocated tickets are being denied tickets for the school transport scheme; if she has plans to review the boundaries of the catchment areas for the school transport scheme in view of significant population changes and development over the past thirty years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25843/07]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme, a pupil is eligible for transport if s/he resides 4.8 kilometres or more from her/his local post primary education centre.

The scheme is not designed to facilitate parents who choose to send their children to a post-primary centre outside of the catchment area in which they reside. However, children who are fully eligible for transport to the post-primary centre in the catchment area in which they reside, may apply for transport on a concessionary basis to a post-primary centre outside of their own catchment area — otherwise known as catchment boundary transport. These children can only be facilitated if spare seats are available on the bus after all other eligible children travelling to their local post-primary centre have been catered for. Such children have to make their own way to the nearest pick up point within that catchment area.

The Transport Liaison Officer for South Co. Tipperary and Bus Éireann have advised that the transport service in question is operating to capacity. Families who have not been allocated seats should continue to liaise with Bus Éireann regarding availability.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to review the school transport scheme, including catchment boundaries. My Department is currently considering how best to progress this task.