Niamh Smyth
Ceist:489. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education to review a case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14636/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 9 April 2024
Ceisteanna (489)
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 €382.02m. There has been an overall increase in both applications and tickets issued for the 2023/2024 school year in comparison to the 2022/2023 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 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.
The Bus Éireann family portal is now open for new applications for school transport services for the 2024/25 school year. The closing date for new applications is Friday 26 April 2024. Any new applications made after the closing date are considered late applications. A late application may mean that a ticket is not available. The Bus Éireann family portal is now open to accept payments/medical card details until 7 June 2024. Payments/entering medical card details made after the deadline date will be deemed late. A late payment/entering of medical card details may mean that a ticket is not available.
Bus Éireann have advised that the pupils in question would not be eligible for school transport as they do not meet the distance criteria of 4.8kms. The family reside 3.5kms from home to the school of attendance. An application was first received for one pupil from this family for the current (2023-24) school year but no payment was received for that school year.
Bus Éireann further advise that an application was received for a member of this family to the National School for the current (2023-24) school year and that this pupil is eligible to this school, but no payment was received.
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 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. 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. It is intended subject to resources to commence implementing the revised eligibility criteria in the 2025/2026 school year.