Written answers

Thursday, 27 June 2019

Department of Education and Skills

School Transport Eligibility

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if free school transport will be provided to a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27363/19]

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.

There are currently over 117,500 children, including over 13,000 children with special educational needs, transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.

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

Bus Éireann has confirmed that the child referred to by the Deputy is not attending her nearest school and is therefore not eligible for school transport under the terms of the above scheme. Only children who are eligible for school transport and who hold a valid medical card (GMS scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge.

Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only which is subject to a number of terms and conditions that are detailed in the scheme.

The family of the child in question should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office if they wish to avail of transport on a concessionary basis for the 2019/20 school year.

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

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