Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important to recognise the profound significance of the school transport scheme. For many it is not just a bus service; it is a vital lifeline for those who rely heavily on it. In the 2022-23 school year we saw more than 149,000 children in many of our primary and post-primary schools, including those with special educational needs, rely on the service. We have seen the positive impact the scheme has had on more than 5,400 children who recently arrived from Ukraine. There is a real financial commitment of more than €338 million from the Government in the scheme. This significant investment reflects the Government's dedication to supporting families and education and the right to an adequate service.

However, the matter we are debating is the pressing issues surrounding the scheme and ongoing frustration among many parents. Every August, as many Deputies have alluded to, we receive a surge of calls from parents living in areas such as Strade, Turlough, Ballyvary and Balla who require tickets for their children and cannot get them through no fault of their own. On some occasions, children have no tickets or seats on the bus and that situation is far from ideal. It is a pressing issue that demands immediate attention. Reform is needed. The immediate publication of the pending review without further delay is also needed. This review, which commenced back in February 2021, must see the light of day and address the unique challenges faced by many families. It is crucial that there should be reform of eligibility, cost and overall effectiveness. The delay in sharing these findings has caused significant frustration, as I have previously discussed.

An issue that always comes before us is the need for reform around concessionary ticket holders. Many children are being left without a ticket at a crucial stage at the last hour. We really need this to be reformed. We also need to see parents who have their school of choice made central to where concessionary eligibility is reformed.

In conclusion, we need to understand the positive impact the school transport scheme provides, but also acknowledge the need for urgent reform to modernise the system. The bureaucracy of eligibility should be discounted with regard to many families who rely on the school transport scheme, especially in rural areas where there are inadequate public transport systems. Measures have been taken. Temporary alleviation measures were introduced in response to the chaos in the free school transport system. It is disappointing in some areas where this was not implemented. The discrepancy between policy and implementation has left many families struggling. Once this review is published, we can have a frank debate on the recommendations.

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