Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

695. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she can confirm receipt of a late application for school transport from a student (details supplied); if this application can be considered in light of the student’s special needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38654/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

There was an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.

In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

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

Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres 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 who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application 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.

Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.

Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy has submitted a late application for a mainstream service for the 23/24 school year. The Local Bus Éireann office have not yet issued all tickets for the service. Bus Éireann are continuing to schedule pupils on services as quickly as possible.

Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for transport where they are attending the nearest recognised school that is or can be resourced to meet their special educational needs.

The National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) acts in an advisory role to the Department on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs.

School Transport Section of my Department has not received an application for the child referred to by the Deputy under the terms of the school transport scheme.

If parents wish to make an application for school transport under the scheme for children with Special Educational Needs, parents can contact their school principal who will assist in making an application for school transport to the SENO that is affiliated with the school the child is attending. Further information on the School Transport Scheme can be found at: gov.ie/schooltransport

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

696. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the situation regarding the provision of school transport for a pupil (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38656/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

There was an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.

In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

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

Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.

Under the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest primary school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application 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.

Due to the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using a random selection process.

Under the terms of the scheme, the availability of concessionary transport varies from year to year based on the capacity on the buses running on all of the various routes and the number of eligible children accommodated on each route.

Routes will not be extended or altered, 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. Home pick-up is not a feature of the School Transport Scheme.

Bus Éireann have advised that, the pupil to whom the Deputy refers, is not eligible for school transport as they do not meet the distance criteria of 3.2kms. The family reside 1.4kms from home to the school of attendance. The distance from home to the pick-up point is 1.9kms as the family reside closer to the school than the pickup point. The family reside on the opposite side of the school to where the service operates. A concessionary ticket has issued to the family for the 2023/24 school year.