Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 May 2024
90. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 263 of 5 March 2024, to provide an update and expected timeline for the review into the school transport scheme, particularly as it relates to school bus escorts. [23285/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
A review of the School Transport Scheme has recently been completed and the School Transport Scheme 2030 report has now been published. It marks the largest review of the School Transport Scheme since it was established in 1967. This review was conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and sustainability, and to ensure it serves students and their families adequately.
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.
A phased implementation of the review’s recommendations will begin in September 2024. This will include a shared effort between my Department and the Department of Transport to pilot and introduce greater integration of transport networks with school transport routes.
With regard to School Bus Escorts, it is planned that the main actions arising from the review are:
• The work underway by School Transport Section in regard to the employment of School Bus Escorts should be completed in order to issue an information pack to schools by the start of the 2024/2025 school year.
• Pay rates for School Bus Escorts are to be reviewed by the end of 2024.
