Minister responds to Mayo concerns over free school transport

The Minister for Education Norma Foley has responded to concerns raised with her in respect of school transport in Mayo.

Deputy Rose Conway Walsh asked the minister to outline the number of additional school places that have been deployed to assist with the increased demand for the free service.

In her response, the minister outlined: "Ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on July 29 by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport nationally.

"This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.

"Already 124,000 tickets for the 2022/2023 school year have been issued to applicants for the new school year.

"To date, circa 20,400 additional places have been created for children for the 2022/2023 school year.

"Bus Éireann will continue to process applications and to issue tickets as soon as extra buses and drivers are sourced and become available to provide transport for the higher numbers qualifying for the service.

"Bus Éireann is continuing to work through remaining applications and families will be contacted as further information is available.

"The normal eligibility criteria of the scheme still apply and tickets continue to be allocated in line with this criteria.

"Pupils at primary level are eligible where they live no less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest primary school.

"At post-primary level, students who live no less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post-primary school/education centre are deemed eligible.

"Any pupils/students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.

"In line with normal practice, all eligible children who completed the application and ticket registration process on time for the 2022/2023 school year will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation."

Problems remain in a number of Mayo communities where sufficient buses are not being laid on to meet the demand, thus leaving pupils on the side of the road and forced to miss classes.