Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I like to thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley. Before I address the specific issue raised, I will provide an outline of the extent of the school transport scheme.

The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023 - 2024 school year over 163,000 children were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. This figure includes over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine. The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was over €382 million. Over 141,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024-25 school year, which is already 4% more than the total tickets issued for the 2023-24 school year.

The school transport scheme is an important service for families and children. The purpose of the Department's school transport scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remotely from their nearest school. Under the current 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, and at post-primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 km from and are attending their nearest post-primary school or education centre as determined by the Department and Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Temporary alleviation measures at post-primary school, 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 where 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.

The school transport 2030 report, which was published earlier this year, marks the largest review of the school transport 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. The recommended changes to the future operation of the schemes include expansion of the current eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure the best value for money from the Exchequer.

In relation to the topic raised by Deputy O'Sullivan, which is one, I am sure, many Deputies feel when representing their rural constituencies, Bus Éireann has confirmed that in the current school year there are 31 school transport services operating to the four post-primary schools in Bandon. There are 1,274 pupils scheduled to travel across these services currently. On the primary side, there are three school transport services to Bandonbridge National School that carry 60 pupils. There are also various primary school service to primary schools in the surrounding areas which include Ballinadee National School, Barryroe National School, Crossmahon National School, Kilbrittain National School, Laragh National School and Newcestown National School.

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 mainstream service begins. Bus Éireann has contacted all families who have been affected, providing regular updates and advising that the Department will be in contact directly with all affected families regarding this payment.

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