Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 September 2009
1169 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will make a statement on a matter (details supplied) regarding the school transport scheme; his views on whether the increase in the cost of school transport in budget 2009 is putting a financial burden on families; and his further views on altering this policy. [30299/09]
View answerI should explain that one of the main objects of the School Transport Scheme is to provide a basic level of service for children who live long distances from school and who might otherwise experience difficulty in attending regularly. Bus Éireann is responsible for the day to day operation of school transport services throughout the country. This is a complex national operation operating during each school year supporting in the region of 75,000 post primary pupils, 52,000 primary and 8,000 special needs pupils. The majority of pupils are allocated a reserved seat on a dedicated contracted service with approximately 9,000 pupils, generally residing in urban areas and environs, using regular public transport services where these exist. A separate payment is made by the Department in respect of those pupils travelling on such regular transport services.
Given the numbers being transported, it would not be possible without incurring additional expenditure to offer the flexibility to all eligible pupils to travel on the regular public transport services at another time of the day.
In relation to the Deputy's reference to school transport costs I can advise that the overall cost of services will be in the region of €194 million for 2009. This represents a significant increase of over €84 million (over 76%) since 2004, up from €109.8 million.
I wish to point out that, despite the escalating costs of the service, charges for school transport had not been increased from 1998 until the third school term in the 2007/08 school year. A further increase was put in place at the start of the 2008/09 school year and the new charges come into effect from September 2009.
The total contribution of charges from parents in 2009 will still only represent about 8.6% of the overall expenditure for school transport.
In the overall context and in order to minimise the overall effects, charge increases have been confined to the eligible post-primary and children availing of concessionary transport. Eligible children attending primary schools and children with special needs will still travel free. Charges continue to be waived in the case of eligible post-primary children where the family is in possession of a valid medical card.
A maximum family rate of €650 will also be applied. Parents have also been given the option of spreading the amount due over two payments payable in July and December 2009.
While I appreciate the Deputy's concerns, given the factors that I have outlined, it is not envisaged that there will be a change in the payment arrangements as outlined above.
