Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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100. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will consider advising Bus Éireann's school transport section to move a student collection point in (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10362/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.  In the current school year, over 147,900 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 3,800 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.

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

Children are eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria and are attending their nearest post primary school/centre.  Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application and ticket registration process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

Bus Éireann have advised that children residing in the area referred to by the Deputy are not eligible for transport as they are not attending their closest school/centre. Therefore these pupils travel on a concessionary basis and as such, must meet the service at an agreed pick up point. 

Bus Éireann have reviewed the existing pickup point and has deemed this pickup point as safe. 

Parents/guardians must arrange to accompany their children to and from the pickup point of a school bus service.