Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of seats allocated on a bus route (details supplied); the number of eligible seats allocated; the primary school or schools from which the eligible candidates were awarded seats; the number of concessionary seats available on this bus route; the primary school or schools to which the concessionary seats were awarded; the process used to determine the awarding of seats; if he will provide the audited records of the confirmation of distance measured in determining allocation of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39947/17]

Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

79. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which school transport bus routes are measured; the auditing process for measuring distance; the frequency with which they are reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39948/17]

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. 

During the 2016/17 school year almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, were 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.

Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are generally eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest school.

Bus Éireann determines distance eligibility by measuring the shortest traversable route, which may be either pedestrian or vehicular from a family's home to their nearest school. The main purpose of this measurement is to identify the distance that families reside from their nearest school and to assess if they meet the distance eligibility criterion for school transport.

In cases where distance eligibility is marginal or in dispute, vehicles fitted with calibrated measuring devices which measure the distance down to the nearest metre may be used to establish the exact distance.  

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

Where the number of applications for transport on a concessionary basis exceeds the number of seats available, Bus Éireann allocate these spare seats using a random selection process. Priority is given to existing concessionary applicants and their siblings provided they have paid the annual charge before the deadline date i.e. the last Friday in July.

The terms of the School Transport Schemes are applied equitably on a national basis.

I have asked Bus Éireann to forward the specific details requested directly to the Deputy.