Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made by the steering group in reviewing the school transport scheme; the changes that have been made to the scheme to date; and if the group has examined the possibility of issuing school bus tickets earlier than at present, for example in July, which would allow for concessionary tickets to be processed before the school term resumes in order that parents can make alternative travel arrangements if necessary. [5182/22]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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As for the last Priority Question, I call Deputy Danny Healy-Rae.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I ask the Minister to outline the progress made by the steering group in reviewing the school transport scheme. What changes have been made to the scheme to date? Has the group examined the possibility of issuing school bus tickets earlier than at present such as in July, for example? This would allow for concessionary tickets to be processed before the school term resumes in order that parents can make alternative travel arrangements if they have to.

It may be construed that I have a conflict of interest because we, that is, my late father Jackie Healy-Rae and I, operated a small school bus transport service since 1956. I have to declare that.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising the question. The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the current school year more than 121,400 children, including more than 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289 million in 2021.

The Department commenced a review of the school transport scheme in February 2021. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and sustainability, and to ensure that it serves students and their families adequately. Following commencement of this review the steering group presented me with an interim report on eligibility with an examination of issues for mainstream pupils relating to the nearest and next nearest school. Following consideration of this report, I approved the extension of temporary alleviation measures in the current school year for transport for post-primary students who are otherwise eligible for school transport but are attending their second-nearest school rather than their nearest school.

Wider considerations relating to operation of the scheme are now taking place in the next phase of the review which is currently under way. As part of this phase of the review, the Department is currently conducting an extensive stakeholder engagement process. The Department will be listening to the views specifically of parents and guardians, students, the education partners and other relevant stakeholders through the use of surveys, focus groups and meetings, as well as inviting written submissions. The Department is inviting stakeholders to share their views and opinions so that they may be considered as part of the assessment and in informing policy on the future operation of the scheme.

The steering group will continue to report to me on an interim basis as the review progresses. This is an important body of work but it is also important that I receive those interim reports because it allows me to progress, as I did previously for this school year, on actions that can be taken. The work continues with the widest possible level of engagement.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I thank the Minister very much for her reply. There are a number of issues I have to raise with her.

On the medical card, it only covers pupils on the bus to the nearest school. If that school is full they must pay to go to their next-nearest school.

Many bus operators have asked me to raise the rule that prevents drivers from working beyond the age of 70 years. These 70-year-olds go on to drive tour buses, for instance, around the Ring of Kerry with full bus loads. What they are saying is if Bus Éireann provided a doctor to check their health yearly that would be no problem. I am asking the Minister to review that rule.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Go raibh maith agat.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I also want to mention the 20-year rule that prevents buses when they reach 20 years of age-----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Deputy will get a chance to come back in.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for the points he raised. On some of them, for example the 70 years of age rule, that is something that is across the public sector and not unique to this operation here.

In many of the issues he raises, this requires a wide and all-encompassing review of the system to ensure it is serving the students and their families. This year we introduced the eligibility for students who were not necessarily attending their nearest school but their second-nearest school. We have done that because there is an acknowledgement that there is a difficulty for students for a variety of reasons, in terms of accessing their second-nearest school. There is a broader context here as well. We are looking at efficiencies in terms of travel, in terms of utilising the transport service and making it as readily available as possible so that it is freeing up families in terms of the commitment of taking children to school.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I thank the Minister. Again, I ask her to change that 70 years of age rule because bus operators are having severe difficulty in getting qualified drivers. We are throwing good drivers onto the rubbish heap.

On the 20-year rule for buses, if a bus passes the commercial vehicle roadworthiness test, CRVT - and those tests are rigorous - then it should be allowed. This is happening in other jurisdictions like the UK and the North of Ireland.

There is another rule. Years ago, when rural schools were closed, a promise was made at that time that children would be brought to the central school. To start a new run, there has to be ten children. People in rural Ireland may not have the opportunity to provide ten children. They have one, two or three children, and their neighbours might have two or three, but if they do not have ten children they cannot start the run. That is very unfortunate in light of the promise that was given when the local school was closed that children would be taken free of charge to the central school. That is not happening in many cases.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the points raised by the Deputy because I appreciate the importance of the school transport system, especially in rural constituencies such as ours. I was, therefore, very clear that there needed to be a review of the system as it currently stands. I ensured that the review began, which it did in a timely fashion, and that interim recommendations were made to me. I have actioned those recommendations. The Deputy has raised different points, but it is important that everybody gets the opportunity to flag particular issues. We are currently engaging with parents, students, all stakeholders and anybody who wants to make a submission. Those submissions are being evaluated, as are all the points being raised, to ensure that the school transport system as we know it meets the needs and demands of students and their families. All issues will be addressed.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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Can most operators make submissions?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, there is an openness for submissions.