Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

83. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 523 of 20 March 2024, in respect of the stated objective of delivering a ‘reasonable level of school transport’, what this means regarding the maximum timeframe that it is considered appropriate for any child to spend on a school bus to travel to and from a special school. [16301/24]

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 current school year over 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.

Bus éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes on behalf of my Department. Bus éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.

In relation to mainstream school transport, where practicable and subject to consideration of costs and logistics, routes are planned to avoid an eligible child having to travel more than 2.4 kms at primary level and 3.2 kms at post primary level to or from a pick up/set down point or to have travel and waiting times in excess of 1.5 hours at primary level and 2.5 hours at post primary level per day. Routes are planned on the basis of the locations of children who are eligible only.

In relation to pupils travelling on the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, it is not always possible to secure a suitable placement in a local school and children and occasionally required to travel some distance to their school of attendance, due to the specialist nature of the placement involved. However, if a concern is raised regarding the level of time a pupil is travelling on a service, this is investigated by School Transport Section and Bus éireann and any adjustments that can be made to the service to reduce the travel time are examined.

If families have any particular queries they can contact School Transport Section directly at school_transport@education.gov.ie where officials in the Department will be happy to assist.

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

As the Deputy is aware, my Department approved a major building project for each of the three schools she has referred to.

The project for the Gaelcholáiste has been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). The Service Level Agreement (SLA) was issued to KWETB in Q4 2023. The next step is for the ETB to procure a Design Team for the project to design the buildings, obtain the necessary statutory planning permissions, and move the project onward to tender and construction in due course.

The project located in Prosperous that the Deputy referred to has also been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board. It is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural design process. KWETB recently informed my Department that the Planning application was lodged with Kildare County Council in Quarter 1 2024. Subject to completion of the planning process, the project will proceed to tender and construction in due course.

The project located in Naas that the Deputy referred to, has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme bundle of school building projects. It is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural design process. A planning application was lodged with Kildare County Council and planning permission was granted. The pre-qualification process is currently underway and once complete, and following Departmental approval, the NDFA will continue the tender process for appointing a contractor in due course.

It is not possible to provide an accurate timeline for completion of these projects at this stage but please be assured that the relevant delivery body will be engaging directly with the school authorities to keep them informed of progress.