Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 October 2023
61. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the action her Department is taking to ensure that all pupils who apply for school transport next year will be facilitated in view that a number of bus routes that were oversubscribed this year leaving many students without transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45113/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
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 133,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the start of the 2022/2023 school year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post-primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post-primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who complete the application and payment process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
In addition, temporary alleviation measures will continue for the 2023/24 school year. This means that transport will be provided where such services are in operation and there is capacity to do so, for concessionary post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who apply and pay on time.
Bus Éireann has reported that unfortunately, for a small number of families assigned to school transport services, a number of difficulties have arisen in some localities with just under 2% of contracted services nationally affecting less than 0.75% of those pupils who have been issued with a ticket. These services were secured for the 2023/2024 school year however, Bus Éireann was informed at the last minute that due to driver/contractor unavailability, services could not commence as expected. These services are not cancelled, and the Bus Éireann School Transport team is working intensively to ensure that transport arrangements are put in place as soon as possible.
As you are aware, my Department undertook to complete a review of the School Transport Scheme. The review has been 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.
The steering group is due to issue a final report which includes recommendations on the future of the school transport scheme. The review will then be brought to government shortly, once approved, the review will be published.
