Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

132. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the national policy in relation to allowing children who avail of school transport to a rural school remain in the school until 3 p.m. when they finish at 2 p.m. and where the school bus only travels once at 3 p.m.; the action families can take if a school does not permit the children to remain on the premises until 3 p.m. and where they hold a bus ticket but cannot avail of the school transport due to a change in policy by the school; if school transport will be provided at 2 p.m. for these children who have an entitlement to school transport and who hold valid tickets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32628/16]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

Currently, in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.

One of the main objectives of the School Transport Scheme is to ensure that, as far as possible, eligible children have a reasonable level of service while at the same time, ensuring that school transport vehicles are fully utilised in an efficient and cost effective manner.

In this regard, Bus Éireann generally plan and timetable school transport services for children who are in attendance for the full school day.

Children in infant classes may have a school day that is one hour shorter than the length of the normal school day. This is a concession in the interests of young children and allows for a perceived inability on their part to sustain the work of the full day.

It is a matter for the Board of Management of a particular school to decide whether the concession should be applied in the case of the school or not . It is also a matter for the managerial authorities to arrange adequate supervision for children while they are on the school premises.