Written answers

Wednesday, 12 July 2017

Department of Education and Skills

School Transport Eligibility

Photo of Noel GrealishNoel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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162. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the nearest school rule under the school transport scheme in order to take into account the impact this rule has on students living in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33348/17]

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

Currently almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 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.

The purpose of my Department's 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.

This approach complements the overall Department policy which is to ensure that specific school accommodation needs for defined geographical areas are addressed in an orderly fashion.

While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport is determined by the distance they reside from their nearest school.

It is important that the terms of the School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.

Photo of Noel GrealishNoel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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163. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the nearest school rule for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33349/17]

Photo of John HalliganJohn 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 almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 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.

The purpose of my Department's 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.

This approach complements the overall Department policy which is to ensure that specific school accommodation needs for defined geographical areas are addressed in an orderly fashion.

While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport is determined by the distance they reside from their nearest school.

It is important that the terms of the School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.

Photo of Noel GrealishNoel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

164. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the school bus service from the Bunninadden Killavil area of County Sligo to a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33350/17]

Photo of John HalliganJohn 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 almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 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.

The purpose of my Department's 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.

Changes to the eligibility criteria for this Scheme were announced in December 2010 as part of measures contained in Budget 2011 and derived from recommendations contained in a comprehensive Value for Money review of the scheme. In general, these changes mean that children are eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria and are attending their nearest school.

This approach complements the overall Department policy which is to ensure that specific school accommodation needs for defined geographical areas are addressed in an orderly fashion.

Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only which is subject to a number of conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service and payment of the annual charge. 

It is important that the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.

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