Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
745. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education when she last spoke to the CEO and executive management team of Bus Éireann on the school transport scheme to identify opportunities for expanding and improving services, specifically on policy and strategic direction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39063/23]
View answerThe 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 was 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.
Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
Department officials engage with Bus Éireann staff on a daily basis with regard to the operation of the School Transport Scheme. In addition, quarterly strategic, and monthly operational meetings are held throughout the year. I also engage on a regular basis with the senior leadership team of Bus Eireann, including a meeting held on 31st August.
Officials also hold regular meetings as the need arises which include but is not limited to: planning for additional school transport places, the management of transport provision for children arriving from Ukraine, and the implications that increasing fuel costs may have on the provision of school transport services.
