Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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657.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total seat capacity and number of applications for school transport tickets to a school in County Donegal (details supplied); if additional capacity is being considered for a particular route; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31579/24]

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 2023/24 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 were 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.

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 School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.

Parents of children wishing to avail of school transport services are required to apply on-line to Bus éireann’s website at buseireann.ie/schooltransport.

The closing date for new applications for the school year 2024/25 was 26 April 2024 and the closing date for payment was 07 June 2024.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time (apply on time and pay on time) are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where there is capacity to do so.

Families may still apply for school transport following this date, but if the application or payment is late they may not secure a seat on a service and will not be considered for a remote area grant.

Children who are not eligible but who apply for school transport are 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.

Temporary Alleviation Measures (TAMS) at post primary level are continued for the current school year. Under these measures, transport will be provided where there is a route in operation and where capacity exists for concessionary post primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school, are attending their second nearest school and who applied and paid on time.

A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.

Bus éireann are currently assessing all applications and planning for routes and services for the 2024/2025 school year following the closing date for payments. Once routes have been finalised, Bus éireann assign tickets for each vehicle. Tickets issue in mid-July and will continue to issue throughout July and August. Families who are unsuccessful in obtaining a seat will be notified via email and a refund will issue.

Bus éireann has confirmed that there are two 33 seater services to Milford Post Primary Centre from the Creeslough area. All pupils who applied and paid on time pupils will be facilitated on board these two services and both services are now at capacity with no seats available.