Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 March 2022
278. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if the transport review undertaken by her Department will be reflected in the 2022 school transport system (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15723/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
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.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process and paid on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
All school transport services are reviewed over the summer months. Arising from this review, routes may be altered, extended or withdrawn depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.
Bus Éireann has advised that the family referred to by the Deputy reside 4.4 km from home to the school they are attending, their nearest school, and are eligible for transport under the terms of the scheme. I am pleased to advise that the status on Bus Éireann’s system has now been changed to “eligible”, and that their local office has been in contact with the family referred. They have also advised that there are seats available on a service that can accommodate these children at present and these seats will be offered to the family once relevant payment has been made.
As the Deputy is aware, my Department commenced a review of the School Transport Scheme in February 2021. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme and how it currently operates, its broader effectiveness and sustainability and that it adequately supports the provision of services to students and their families.
The review encompasses the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs and the Primary and Post-Primary School Transport Schemes in terms of how each element of the schemes currently operate, to include eligibility criteria, trends, costs and cost drivers, and overall effectiveness in meeting the objectives of the schemes. The review will also examine the potential for integration of different strands of the scheme and a more co-ordinated approach with other Government Departments that also use transport services.
Wider considerations relating to operation of the scheme are now taking place in the next phase of the review which is currently underway. The Steering Group will continue to report to me on an interim basis as the review progresses.
