Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
626. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education the details of efforts that have been put in place by her Department to increase the number of bus drivers available in order that the issues experienced with the school transport scheme will not be repeated for the 2024-2025 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1380/24]
View answer629. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education what measures have been put in place to deal with the expected increase in applications and demand for the school transport scheme, in view of the announcement that the scheme will be free for those eligible for the 2024-2025 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1385/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 626 and 629 together.
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.
There has been an overall increase in both applications and tickets issued for the 2023/2024 school year in comparison to the 2022/2023 school year.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
The school transport scheme is a demand led scheme based on the number of children who apply. My Department engages with Bus Éireann on an annual basis to plan for the provision of the resources required to operate the scheme.
As part of budget measures for 2024, Government announced an additional €50m for school transport which will allow continued investment for children to access to the School Transport scheme.
The increased investment on the scheme is due in the main to the cost of contractors to cater for the increase in pupil numbers projected in 2024. In addition the expected increase of children requiring transport on the scheme for children with special educational needs will result in a subsequent increase in the number of School Bus Escorts required and this is factored into the additional costs for 2024.
In addition to the funding for investment in the overall scheme, as part of the cost of living measures announced in budget 2024 to assist families with the costs of education, reduced fees will continue to apply on school transport.
