Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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51. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to improve the school transport system for the coming school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16977/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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.

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.

It should be noted that planning for school transport services in any given year commences in the December to January preceding the start of that school year. These plans are well underway and as well as commencing 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.

The Bus Éireann online portal for applications for the 2024/2025 school year is now open.

The closing date for new applicants to apply will be the last Friday in April – the 26^th April. The closing date to make a payment/enter medical card details will be the Friday after the June Bank Holiday weekend – 7^th June, following which the portal will close for 3-week period to allow Bus Éireann time to plan for the new school year.

This year, there is a facility to apply and pay at the same time from the date the portal opens.

These dates are in line with the application timelines for the current school year. An extensive media campaign is now underway to advise families of these timelines.

In the 2024/25 school year, it is planned that the main actions arising from the review will be as set out below:

• Continue criteria for Temporary Alleviation Measures
• Implement aspects of the review in pilots.
• Commence planning for the 2025/2026 school year to provide for additionally on the scheme under revised scheme eligibility criteria of reduced distance criteria and removal of nearest school criteria
• Make changes to the SEN transport application form. The newly adapted form will allow families to indicate if they wish for their child to travel on mainstream services where such transport is in operation and to identify if the child requires the support of a School Bus Escort to accompany them on the mainstream service
• The rate of the Special Transport Grant will be increased
• The Department and Bus Éireann will continue to explore and implement improved technology to increase accountability, information to improve planning and resource allocation and simpler, more customer friendly and transparent interfaces
• 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 and pay rates for Bus Escorts is to be reviewed in full by the end of 2024.