Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The review will consider how the scheme currently operates, its broader effectiveness and sustainability and that it adequately supports the provision of services to students and their families.

The review encompasses the school transport scheme for children with special educational needs. The review of the primary and post-primary school transport schemes will examine each element of the schemes, including eligibility criteria, trends, costs, cost drivers and overall effectiveness in meeting the objectives of the scheme. The review will also examine the potential for integration of different strands of the scheme and a more co-ordinated approach with other Departments that also use transport services.

Wider considerations relating to operation of the scheme are taking place in the current phase of the review. As part of this, the technical working group has undertaken extensive consultation, including running a public survey for parents and guardians as well as students who use the service. It is to be hoped that, as a result of the review, the situation will be resolved by the end of next year.

I reiterate the point that 124,000 students are receiving school transport at the moment. I will feed the Deputies' comments on the immediate areas to which they referred back to the Minister.

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