Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

338. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a specific policy on the withdrawal of school bus services for school children travelling from Johnstown Bridge in County Kildare; if she is aware of the impact of the non-provision of a school bus service on safety for children, traffic, expenditure and time spent commuting to the nearest school bus service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37024/15]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Bus Éireann has advised that under the terms of the Scheme children residing in the Johnstown Bridge area have transport eligibility to Longwood Post Primary Centre but are choosing to attend Kilcock Post Primary Centre. These children travel to Enfield to avail of concessionary transport to Kilcock Post Primary Centre.

School transport on a concessionary basis is subject to a number of terms and conditions including that there are spare seats available on an existing school bus service and on payment of the annual charge. Routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis.

The terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.

The terms of the School Transport Scheme are available on the Departments website at www.education.ie.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

339. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the policy decisions that were taken regarding the reduction in the provision of school bus transport where families were reliant on services; if she is aware that children have been refused concessionary transport and transport on a school bus where they were a free travel card holder; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37025/15]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The purpose of the 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 Scheme, children are eligible for school transport where they are attending their nearest school and meet the requisite distance.

School transport services, routes, pick-up points, vehicle size etc. are designed around the eligible children presenting for school transport.

Children who are not eligible for school transport may avail of school transport on a concessionary basis only subject to a number of terms and conditions which are outlined in the scheme. Included in these terms are: there is spare capacity on the service; routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis; no additional State cost will be incurred; the appropriate annual charge is paid; Medical Card waiver is not applicable.

The availability of concessionary transport may vary from year to year, is not available on public scheduled services, and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child's education cycle.

The terms of the School Transport Scheme are available on the Departments website at www.education.ie.