Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, the school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, more than 147,900 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year to just over 3,800 children and young people who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine. The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €332.2 million.

A review of the school transport scheme commenced in 2021. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and its sustainability, and to ensure it serves students and their families adequately. Significant consultation has been undertaken as part of this review. A public survey was administered for parents, guardians and students who use the service and, perhaps more importantly, those who do not use the service but would like to be in a position to access it. A broad array of stakeholders including schools, special education interest groups, industry representatives and other Departments were all consulted as part of this review. Phase 1 of the review examined the impact of the eligibility criteria on mainstream pupils who were eligible for transport to their nearest school but attending their next-nearest school. The report was completed in June 2021.

Following consideration of this report, the provision of temporary alleviation measures for transport for the 2021-22 school year was approved for post-primary students who are otherwise eligible for school transport, but were attending their second-nearest school and had applied and paid on time. These measures have continued and are provided for in the 2022-23 school year, pending completion of the review. These measures mean that transport is provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second-nearest school, and who applied for school transport and paid on time. Phase 2 of the review has progressed significantly and is being completed in tandem with phase 3 which has also begun.

While work on the review was impacted somewhat by the current conflict in Ukraine and by the increased demand for the scheme in summer 2022, officials are working to complete phase 3 of the review within the coming weeks, with recommendations on the future operation of the Department’s school transport scheme then being made. Once approved by the Government, it is planned that the review will be published.

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