Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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1. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the actions that she intends to take to ensure increased capacity in school transport in the next school year. [34952/22]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The school transport scheme plays a crucial role already but it has enormous potential in terms of not only reducing the impact on costs on parents and families but reducing emissions and traffic. We need to significantly upscale it. What are the Minister's plans in that regard for the next school year?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, school transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current year, more than 121,400 children, including more than 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. The cost in 2021 was €289 million. It is worth noting that in the last number of years, the number of children using the scheme has increased by more than 8,000. In the most recent academic year, capacity was increased to cater for more than 1,500 additional pupils arriving from Ukraine.

Under the terms of the school transport scheme, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 km from the school they are attending and it is their nearest national school. At post-primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 km from the post-primary school or education centre they are attending and it is the nearest post-primary school or education centre. Distance is determined by the Department and Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.

As the Deputy will be aware, 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 and how it currently operates, its broader effectiveness and sustainability and that it is adequately supportive of the provision of service to students and their families. The review encompasses the school transport scheme for children with special educational needs. The review of the primary and post-primary school transport schemes examines how the schemes currently operate, including eligibility criteria, trends, costs, cost drivers and overall effectiveness in meeting the objectives of the scheme. The review also examines the potential for integration of different strands of the scheme in a more co-ordinated approach with other Departments that use transport services.

Following commencement of this review, the steering group presented me with an initial interim report. Following consideration of this report, I approved the extension of temporary alleviation measures for the 2021-22 school year for transport for post-primary students who were otherwise eligible for school transport but were attending their second nearest school. Wider considerations regarding the operation of the scheme are now taking place in the next phase of the review, which is under way. A number of meetings have been convened and a number of discussions have taken place. Decisions with regard to measures for the 2022-23 school year will be made shortly.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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I believe that with adequate vision, we can deliver transformative change in school transport that will take a large number of cars off the road and save parents a significant amount of money. It is at this time of year that parents' attention turns to whether their children will qualify for the scheme and the attention of school communities turns to the issue of eligibility and concessionary places, which have always existed, attempts to establish new routes and so forth.

I urge the Minister to ensure that the school transport section in her Department is adequately resourced to ensure it is in a position to meet all the requests it receives. The Minister alluded to the review and its interim report, which led to the welcome proposal regarding second nearest schools. My understanding is that this review was due to be completed earlier this year. What is the timeline for the publication and implementation of the review?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with the Deputy. I believe there is an opportunity - it is one that we are taking via the review - to carry out a complete root and branch of the school transport service as regards how it meets the needs of students and families. The Deputy referred to how we can integrate the service, ensure best value for everybody concerned and so forth. He is correct that the interim review results led to me making the decision to accommodate those who are attending their second nearest school.

Decisions regarding measures for the 2022-23 school year will be made and announced shortly. The completion of the review will take place before the end of this year. It is likely to be the third quarter or start of the fourth quarter but most likely the former. I am very conscious of the need to advance this matter and the enormous benefit the school transport scheme provides for families the length and breadth of the country. It is important that we have a system that works effectively for all involved.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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While it is somewhat later than perhaps might have been anticipated, it is good to at least have a timeline for the review. The other element is that there is scope to reduce the costs for those who are already travelling on the school transport scheme. Has the Department considered that? I urge the Minister to consider that in the context of the forthcoming budget to encourage even more people to take part in the scheme.

Another element is that in large parts of the State, school transport routes are operated by private contractors outside of the scheme. Obviously, that is entirely the prerogative of the school communities. Has the Department considered any incentives to encourage additional capacity in the system by encouraging some of those organisations operating those routes to be funded through the school transport scheme?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In the first instance, I acknowledge that measures have already been introduced in the area of school transport costs and the cost of living. The Deputy will be aware that the Government announced there would be a reduced cap for fees for multiple children at post-primary level. It has now been reduced from €650 to €500 and from €220 to €150 at primary level.

I am very conscious of the importance of the scheme and measures of this nature. Obviously, we must look at everything in a budgetary context going forward. I wish to highlight that proactive steps have already been taken, however. It is the purpose of the review to look at all aspects in terms of accessibility, value for money and meeting the needs of families and students. It is all-encompassing. We have thus far had incredible engagement from all sectors, stakeholders, students, parents, families and the wider general public.