Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
531. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 10 May 2023, if she will provide an update concerning the school bus transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15007/24]
View answer532. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on plans to overhaul the school transport system and the abolishing the "nearest school" rule, which requires a student applying to the school transport scheme to attend the school closest to their home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15008/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 531 and 532 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 traveling 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.
As the Deputy is aware, a review of the School Transport Scheme has been completed.
A review of the School Transport Scheme has been completed. This review was conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness, and sustainability and to ensure it services students and their families adequately.
The School Transport Scheme 2030 report has now been published, which marks the largest review of the School Transport Scheme since it was established in 1967. The Government is committed to working to achieve the report’s recommendation of expanding access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030. Throughout the review, the value of the School Transport Scheme to both families and in supporting wider Government policies has been very apparent. In summary, school transport not only plays an important part in supporting children's access to education, but it also aligns to wider Government objectives.
Overall the recommended changes to the future operation of the Scheme concern:
• expansion of the current eligibility criteria,
• addressing current operational challenges
• charges and grants and
• over time, moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure optimum value for money to the Exchequer
A phased implementation of the review’s recommendations will commence in September 2024. This will include a shared effort between my Department and the Department of Transport to pilot and introduce greater integration of the roll out of transport networks with school transport routes, with a view to expanding provision of transport and reducing the reliance over time on individual car trips for school journeys. It is intended subject to resources to commence implementing the revised eligibility criteria in the 2025/2026 school year.
