Written answers

Tuesday, 15 September 2020

Department of Education and Skills

School Transport

Photo of Violet-Anne WynneViolet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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428. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the policy on school bus placement (details supplied); and if there is a rule that students must attend their nearest school as per the guidelines mentioned by Bus Éireann. [23817/20]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.  In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.

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.

Under the terms of the Department's School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria (3.2km at primary and 4.8km at post-primary) and are attending their nearest school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. 

All children who are eligible for school transport and who completed the application and payment process on time have been accommodated on school transport services for the 2020/2021 school year. Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis and are facilitated where spare seats exits after eligible children have been accommodated.

Photo of Violet-Anne WynneViolet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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429. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason Bus Éireann continues to take full payment from applicants who reside outside the 6 km radius until it knows it can offer a place on the service (details supplied). [23818/20]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.  In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019. 

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. 

Under the terms of the Department's School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transportif they satisfy the distance criteria (3.2km at primary and 4.8km at post-primary) and are attending their nearest school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. 

All children who are eligible for school transport and who completed the application and payment process on time have been accommodated on school transport services for the 2020/2021 school year.

Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis and are facilitated where spare seats exits after eligible children have been accommodated.  Where the number of ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available Bus Éireann allocates tickets using an agreed selection process.  A full refund is given to those who do not secure a ticket.

The closing date for payment for the 2020/2021 school year was Tuesday 4th August 2020. The School Transport Scheme Family Portal was temporarily closed for applications and payments on the 20thAugust 2020.  This temporary closure was necessary to complete the work required to issue tickets to families who at that time remained due to be allocated a ticket for school transport services for the 2020/2021 school year. 

The School Transport Scheme Family Portal has now re-opened.  However, parents/guardians making an application/payment at this time for the 2020/2021 school year are reminded that the closing date for payments for the 20/21 school year  was Tuesday 4thAugust 2020.  While it is possible to submit a payment, payments made at this time are now late. Late applicants and/or families who pay late are not guaranteed a seat and will only be allocated a seat if capacity is available once seats are allocated to those families who applied and paid on time for transport services for the 2020/2021 school year.

In addition, payments for Post-Primary seats completed or made after 4thAugust 2020 can only be considered when 50% capacity, required by new Covid19 public health guidelines, is achieved on each route.

In the event of not securing a ticket where no capacity exists, or on cancellation, a full refund will be issued.

Photo of Violet-Anne WynneViolet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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430. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason it is not policy for schools to make parents aware of the school bus transport arrangements when they accept students into their schools. [23819/20]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.  In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.

Full information on the operation of my Department's School Transport Scheme is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie and on Bus Éireann's website at www.buseireann.ie. 

In addition, Bus Éireann who operate the scheme on behalf of my Department, annually distribute information to schools in advance of school open nights with information  on school transport services.  This information includes details on who is eligible, how to apply, when to apply, details of ticket charges and details of the websites for both the Department and Bus Éireann for those who wish to seek further information on the School Transport Scheme.

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