Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The school transport scheme is a significant operation, as the Deputy is aware. It is managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2022-23 school year more than 149,000 children, including more than 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. In addition, school transport scheme services were provided in the 2022-23 school year for more than 5,400 children who arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

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The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was in excess of €338.9 million.

As part of the budget measures for 2024, the Government announced an additional €50 million for school transport which will allow continued investment for children to access the school transport scheme. The increased investment in the scheme is due in the main to the cost of contractors to cater for the increase in pupil numbers projected in 2024. In addition, the expected increase in the scheme for children with special educational needs will result in a subsequent increase in the number of school bus escorts required. This is factored into the additional costs for 2024.

Alongside this €50 million in funding for investment in the overall scheme, a further €42 million was provided as part of the cost-of-living measures announced in budget 2024. This funding will be used to assist families with the costs of education. Reduced fees will continue to apply to school transport for the 2024-25 academic year. All funding for the school transport scheme for 2024 will be derived from core or current funding and not capital funding.

There has been a significant overall increase year on year in school transport applications and tickets issued. In 2017, the number of children availing of primary, post-primary and special educational needs transport was 116,000. However, the number of children availing of school transport in the current year has increased to approximately 152,000, an increase of 31%.

As with most, if not all, Government schemes, there are criteria governing the operation of the scheme. Pupils at primary level are eligible where they live not less than 3.2 km from and are attending their nearest primary school and, at post-primary level, not less than 4.8 km from and are attending their nearest post-primary school or education centre. Any pupils or students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible - otherwise known as concessionary applicants - and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.

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