Paul Murphy
Question:109. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will abolish fares for school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31656/23]
View answerThursday, 29 June 2023
Questions (109)
Written answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
There has been an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
The purpose of the 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.
A review of the School Transport Scheme is at an advanced stage. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and sustainability, and to ensure that it serves students and their families adequately.
Phase 1 of the review examined the impact of eligibility criteria on mainstream pupils who were eligible for transport to their nearest school but attending their next nearest school. The report was completed in June 2021. Phase 2 of the review was completed late last year and phase 3 will be completed shortly. This final report will include recommendations on the future operation of the Department’s School Transport Scheme. Once approved by Government, it is planned that the review will be published.
The Government announced a wide range of once-off measures to assist with increased cost of living pressures which includes a significant reduction in charges for school transport for the 2023/2024 school year.
For the 2023/2024 school year, reduced charges will apply, ticketholders will save up to €50 at primary and €275 at post-primary, with an overall reduction in the family maximum contribution of €525 compared to the fees for 2021/2022 school year. This reduction in fees is at a cost of €49m.
It remains that eligible pupils availing of school transport under the special educational needs scheme and eligible pupils in receipt of medical cards are exempt from ticket charges.
The annual charge for School Transport Services for the 2023/24 school year is set out below:
|
Category of Pupil |
Annual Charge |
|
Primary Eligible/ Concessionary Pupil |
€50 |
|
Post Primary Eligible/ Concessionary Pupil |
€75 |
|
Maximum annual charge for families |
€125 |