Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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682. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a pick-up location on a school bus route in County Westmeath will be reconsidered, given that there are more suitable locations in the immediate vicinity in the interest of child safety and safe road usage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13036/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to your correspondence in relation to a school bus stop at Conranstown, Co. Westmeath.

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. 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.

The issues raised in the attached documents have been reviewed by Bus Éireann. The Local Area Inspector has also reviewed the existing pickup point and has deemed this pickup point as safe.

The road is not considered to be any more dangerous than other approach roads to pickup points in use throughout the country.

There is an onus of responsibility on parents/guardians to arrange to bring their children to and from the pickup point of a school bus service, taking whatever safety precautions they consider sufficient in doing so, and accompanying the children to ensure their safety and allay any concern, if necessary.