Dáil debates

Thursday, 3 June 2010

3:00 pm

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 4: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills her views on the possible increase in school transport costs to families and extending this to primary school children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23929/10]

Photo of Seán HaugheySeán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The school transport scheme, which is operated by Bus Éireann on my Department's behalf, facilitates the transportation of over 125,000 children to primary and post-primary schools each day. School transport is a very significant operation involving about 42 million journeys and over 82 million kilometres on 6,000 routes every school year. The arrangements currently in place for school transport annual charges, namely €300 per eligible and concessionary post-primary pupil, €200 per concessionary primary pupil and a maximum family charge of €650, will remain in place for the 2010 to 2011 school year.

The total contribution of charges from parents in 2009 still only represents 7% of the overall expenditure of €177.4 million by the State on school transport. In order to minimise the overall effects on families, school transport charges have been confined up to now to eligible post-primary children and children availing of concessionary transport. Charges continue to be waived in the case of eligible post-primary children where the family is in possession of a valid medical card and in addition, eligible primary children and children with special needs still travel free. A maximum family charge of €650 also applies.

The Deputy will be aware that the McCarthy report made recommendations to levy charges, at both primary and post-primary level, at a rate of €500 per annum per child or 50% of the full economic cost of providing the service, with the exemption for social welfare recipients continuing to apply. The recommendations in the McCarthy report fall to be considered as part of the annual Estimates and budget process. It would not be appropriate to comment specifically on whether any of these recommendations or other expenditure issues will be included in next year's Estimates and budget prior to Government consideration and decisions on the Estimates for 2011.

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply. However, it does not set out or allay the fears of thousands of hard-pressed parents. We are discussing the 2010 to 2011 school year but we really want to know about the following academic year. Will the Minister of State reject any proposals by the Department of Finance to increase the fee from €300 to €500?

Only 125,000 people are availing of school transport, a number which has decreased by 10,000 because the fee has increased by 203% from €99 to €300 already. People are using their own transport or that of other parents and friends. The viability of school transport in rural areas as we know it will be undermined. Will the Minister of State allay the fears of the parents that the fee will be increased?

Photo of Seán HaugheySeán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is aware that there was no increase in charges from 1998 until the third term of the 2007 to 2008 academic year. There were three increases following from that. I am not responsible for recent newspaper articles on the issue and the McCarthy report is freely available. It goes without saying that all aspects of that report will be considered by all Departments in the context of the Estimates for 2011. I reiterate that there will be no changes to charges for the 2010 to 2011 school year and the Estimates process for 2011 is at a very early stage. All items of expenditure in the Department of Education and Skills will be considered in that context. I am not in a position to say what will be in the budget and Estimates for 2011.

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State is a reasonable man. Will he fight the corner of the hard-pressed parents and rural students who will not be able to afford this extra increase if he does not resist it? Will he reject the proposals of the McCarthy report to increase the charges from €300 to €500?

Photo of Seán HaugheySeán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I assure the Deputy that I am deeply committed to the school transport scheme. I am putting that on the record in case there is any doubt.

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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We are all relieved accordingly.

Photo of Seán HaugheySeán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am delighted to hear it. There has been a suggestion that because I am a Dublin Deputy I would not have a feel for the scheme. It is a national scheme and I am totally committed to its aims and objectives. The Estimates process will be announced and commence in the course of the budgetary proceedings. I am aware of the feelings of parents on previous increases in school transport charges and they will be taken into account.

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I wonder what are the views of the Green Party. It has advocated public transport and getting cars off the road.

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Minister of State is not answerable to the House with regard to the views of another political party.

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The Tánaiste might raise it at Cabinet level.