Martin Browne
Ceist:313. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education her plans to address the shortage of school bus drivers, and the impact this is having on students and their families each year. [10524/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 5 March 2024
Ceisteanna (313)
Freagraí scríofa
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 travelling 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 €382.02 million.
The scheme is operated using a mix of Bus Éireann owned vehicles and directly recruited drivers, and private contractors who recruit their own drivers to operate on the scheme. As part of the operation of the scheme, Bus Éireann manages the procurement tender process and contract management arrangements to include services provided by contractors under the School Transport Scheme. There are currently in the region of 7,000 vehicles operating on the scheme.
The competitive procurement process is conducted in accordance with the negotiated procedure under national and EU procurement legislation.
Bus Éireann has reported challenges in sourcing drivers and contractors in certain areas. This is against a backdrop of significant shortages of drivers in the labour market overall and competing demands for drivers to deliver additional public transport initiatives such as Connecting Ireland and Bus Connects/Local Link services.
Bus Éireann is continuing to prioritise sourcing vehicles and drivers, for the current school year this was through a mix of targeted campaigns seeking taxi/bus operators through NTA bulletins and mailing lists of registered licenced operators, continued engagement with existing contractors, and a national and local media advertising campaign seeking additional drivers and contractor operators for the Scheme has also taken place and is supported by additional targeted social media campaigns. Further information can be found at buseireann.ie/schooltransport.
As well as beginning the planning process earlier for the 2024/2025 school year, the Department engage with Bus Éireann on a daily basis in relation to operational matters. Monthly operational and quarterly strategic meetings are also held. The Department continue to engage closely with Bus Éireann in relation to the current and future availability of drivers and contractors as reported as a wider issue nationally.
As the Deputy is aware, 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.
Families who wish to avail of school transport scheme services for the 2024/2025 school are advised to apply online on the Bus Éireann application portal which is opening shortly. Eligibility will be determined by Bus Éireann once applications are submitted.