Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. Before I address the specific issues raised by the Deputy, I will provide an outline of the extent of the school transport system. 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 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils, travelling on primary and post-primary services; 19,800 pupils with special educational needs; and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382 million. There has been an overall increase in the number of both applications and tickets issued for the 2023-24 school year in comparison with the 2022-23 school year.

The school transport scheme is an important service for families and children. The purpose of the Department's scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remotely from their nearest school. A review of the school transport scheme has been conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and its sustainability and ensuring it services students and their families adequately. Considering how best to maximise the benefits now and into the future has been a significant factor in the ongoing review of the scheme, which commenced in February 2021.

Following the first phase of the review, temporary alleviation measures, TAMs, were introduced at post-primary level and are being continued for the current school year. Under these measures, which were initially introduced in 2019, transport is provided where a route in is operation and where capacity exists for concessionary post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school, are attending their second nearest school and applied and paid on time.

An analysis of school transport schemes in other jurisdictions was also conducted as part of this stakeholder engagement and review process, including the EU, the UK, the United States and Australia. This research outlined evidence of the need for a school transport service in an Irish context compared with some comparative countries, as well as an analysis of the costs to users of school transport services in some other jurisdictions.

The technical working group and the steering group have recently completed their work on the final report of the review, which includes recommendations on the future operation of the scheme. I am aware this review is much awaited. It is recognised improvements need to be made to the scheme and I know the importance of that happening. The Minister expects to be in a position shortly to bring the review to the Government, and further to Government approval, the review will be published.

In respect of the specific issues raised by the Deputy in this case, Bus Éireann has confirmed that the service to Salesian Secondary College in Pallaskenry, County Limerick, has not yet commenced due to driver shortages. It is understood this route affects 32 pupils, of whom nine are eligible, nine fall under the TAMs and 14 are concessionary. Bus Éireann is continuing to prioritise sourcing vehicles and drivers but has confirmed that a small number of routes remain without a service. This equates to less than 1% of pupils nationally, or less than 2% of vehicles, with services being provided daily for over 99.5% of pupils.

The Department has established an exceptional no-service interim grant to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements families may have to put in place until their service begins. It has contacted families directly in regard to this payment.

In respect of the route in question, the local school transport team is actively working to establish this service and will continue to engage with families involved.

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