Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim mo bhuíochas leis an Teachta os rud é gur ardaigh sé an t-ábhar seo sa Teach. Ar dtús ba mhaith liom cur síos a dhéanamh ar an scéim iompar scoile atá againn sa tír seo.

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 149,000 children, including over 18,000 with special educational needs, will be transported to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country on a daily basis, including in Kildare and including from my constituency to Kildare. There are children crossing county boundaries regularly.

There has been an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and 38% in tickets issued to concessionary tickets in the current school year compared with the previous year. In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for more than 5,000 children who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine. The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9 million. This is a big investment on the part of the State. The school transport scheme is an important service for families and children. Its purpose is to support the transport to and from school of children who reside in places that are remote from their nearest schools.

A review of the school transport scheme commenced in February 2021. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and sustainability, and to ensure that it serves students and their families adequately. Phase 1 of the review examined the impact of eligibility criteria on mainstream pupils who were eligible for transport to their nearest school but attending their next nearest school.

Following consideration of this report, for the 2021-22 school year, the provision of temporary alleviation measures was approved for transport for post-primary students who are otherwise eligible for school transport but who were attending their second nearest school and had applied and paid on time. These measures have been continued for the current school year, and will again continue in the 2023-24 school year pending completion of the review.

For the 2023-24 school year, these measures mean that transport will be 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 by 28 April and who pay for tickets or who enter medical card details by 9 June. Phase 2 of the review has progressed significantly and is being completed in tandem with phase 3, which is well under way. For the 2023-24 school year, it remains that children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 km from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 km from and are attending their nearest post primary school having regard to ethos and language. Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation. In addition, as I mentioned, temporary alleviation measures have been continued for the next school year, pending completion of the review.

Children who are not eligible for school transport but who completed the application process on time are considered for spare seats that may become available after eligible children have been facilitated. Such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

After the Deputy’s next contribution, I will refer to some of the specifics in Kildare.

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