Written answers
Tuesday, 23 July 2024
Department of Education and Skills
School Transport
Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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774.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to facilitate a new school transport bus route from Delvin into Mullingar, County Westmeath, under the revised guideline as per School Transport 2030-Review of the School Transport Scheme - Phase 3 Report (details supplied). [32430/24]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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 current 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 as determined by the Department/Bus éireann, having regard to ethos and language. 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 as determined by the Department/Bus éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time, that is apply on time and pay on time, are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation. Children who are eligible for school transport but for whom no service is available may be offered the Remote Area Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements. The Remote Area Grant is also payable for eligible children who may have to travel 3.2kms or more to or from a designated pick up/set down point.
Temporary Alleviation Measures (TAMS) at post-primary level, are being continued for the 2024/25 school year. Under these measures, transport will be provided for concessionary post-primary pupils who:
- are eligible for transport to their nearest school, and are attending their second nearest school and,
- who applied and paid on time and,
- where there is a route in operation and where capacity exists on that route.
Where the number of ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available, Bus éireann will allocate tickets for the spare seats using an agreed selection process.
Pupils from the general Delvin area are currently not eligible for transport to Mullingar Post Primary Centre (PPC) as they reside closer to one of the following school centres:
- Columba College, Killucan
- Athboy Community School Athboy
- Castlepollard Community College, Castlepollard
As the Deputy is aware, a review of the School Transport Scheme has been completed. This review was conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness, and sustainability and to ensure it services students and their families adequately.
A phased implementation of the review’s recommendations will commence in September 2024. This will include a shared effort between my Department and the Department of Transport to pilot and introduce greater integration of the roll out of transport networks with school transport routes, with a view to expanding provision of transport and reducing the reliance over time on individual car trips for school journeys.
It is intended, subject to resources, to commence implementing the revised eligibility criteria, including the reduced distance criteria in the 2025/2026 school year.
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