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Northern Ireland free school bus review published | Northern Ireland free school bus review published |
(35 minutes later) | |
A review of home to school transport has recommended that free buses or taxis should only be provided to pupils' nearest school. | A review of home to school transport has recommended that free buses or taxis should only be provided to pupils' nearest school. |
That would be regardless of whether the school is Catholic, controlled, secondary or grammar. | That would be regardless of whether the school is Catholic, controlled, secondary or grammar. |
However, Irish medium and integrated schools would not be restricted. | However, Irish medium and integrated schools would not be restricted. |
Currently children get free transport if their home is more than two miles from their primary school or three miles form their post primary school. | Currently children get free transport if their home is more than two miles from their primary school or three miles form their post primary school. |
Although parents will still be able to choose the type of school they want, they would no longer have the transport from home paid for. | Although parents will still be able to choose the type of school they want, they would no longer have the transport from home paid for. |
The minister for education has welcomed the report and said he will consult on what to do next. | The minister for education has welcomed the report and said he will consult on what to do next. |
The government currently spends around £100m a year on school transport. | |
Thirty per cent of pupils have their journey paid for because of the distance they live from the nearest suitable school. | Thirty per cent of pupils have their journey paid for because of the distance they live from the nearest suitable school. |
Some journeys are inevitable but the report's authors said if all pupils went to their nearest school, it would save £30m a year. | Some journeys are inevitable but the report's authors said if all pupils went to their nearest school, it would save £30m a year. |
The review took evidence about children walking to a school bus stop. | The review took evidence about children walking to a school bus stop. |
It said persistent concerns were raised about the vulnerability of children in the winter, in early mornings or evenings and when wearing dark school uniforms. | |
In November, eight-year-old Adam Gilmour was knocked down and killed on his way to a bus stop in Cloughmills. | In November, eight-year-old Adam Gilmour was knocked down and killed on his way to a bus stop in Cloughmills. |
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