Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate Deputy O'Sullivan's kind words. I am taking this on behalf of our colleague the Minister, Deputy Foley. Before I address the specific issue raised, I have been asked to provide an outline of the extent of the school transport scheme which is managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, more than 161,600 children are being transported daily to schools throughout the country at a cost of €382 million.

Under the current terms of the scheme, 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 as determined by the Department. At post-primary level, children are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 km from and are attending their nearest post-primary school as determined by the Department. Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time, which are those who apply and pay on time, are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation. Children eligible for school transport but for whom no service is available may be offered the remote area grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements. The remote area grant is also payable for eligible children who may have to travel 3.2 km or more to or from a designated pick-up or set-down point.

Temporary alleviation measures at post-primary level, which have been in place since 2019, are being continued for the 2024-25 school year. Under these measures, transport is provided where there is a route in operation and capacity exists for concessionary post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second-nearest school and who applied and paid on time. Children not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only and will be facilitated where spare seats are available after eligible children have been accommodated. Where the number of ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available, Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for the spare seats using an agreed selection process.

As the Deputy will know, a review of the school transport scheme was completed and published. This review was conducted with a view to examining the current scheme and it is the largest review of the scheme since it was established in 1967. The Government is committed to working to achieve the report’s recommendation of expanding access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030. Overall, the recommended changes to the future operation of the scheme concern the expansion of the current eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges, charges and grants, and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure the best value for money for the Exchequer. The scale of the scheme is significant, and any changes will take time to plan and implement. It will, therefore, be brought in on a phased basis.

As indicated at the time of the launch of the school transport review, these changes will include a wider cross-government effort between the Departments of Education and Transport and respective agencies. Planned pilot projects in the 2024-25 school year will provide valuable insights on the impact increased demand will have on the scheme, the potential to integrate public transport services with the school transport service and having more sustainable modes of transport. These insights will give an indication of the scale of planning and implementation required.

In the coming weeks, consideration will be given to having further pilots in other areas of the country. These will be considered where potential demand exists and where capacity or resources are not a particular issue. Bus Éireann has advised that in respect of the route raised by the Deputy, 17 pupils were not successful in obtaining a school bus ticket to the school in question. I note he used specific cases and feedback in the context of this route. It was said these pupils are not attending their nearest school and most pupils reside closer to Bantry, Skibbereen, Dunmanway and Kenmare. Following the payment closing date of 7 June, Bus Éireann has begun examining all applications for school transport for the 2024-25 school year. Arising from the analysis, routes may be altered, extended or withdrawn depending on the number and location of eligible children who will avail of school transport for the following year.

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