Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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14. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to expand the eligibility criteria for school transport in answer to the demonstrated need as a response to the need for climate action and as a way to mitigate increases in the cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34896/22]

Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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I have raised the issue of school transport with the Minister on previous occasions. What are the plans to expand the eligibility criteria for school transport to respond to the demonstrated need, as a response to the need for climate action and as a way to mitigate increases in the cost of living?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, more than 121,400 children, including in excess of 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. The cost in 2021 was more than €289 million. It is worth noting that in recent years the number of children using the scheme has increased by in excess of 8,000. During the previous academic year, there was an increase in capacity to cater for more than 1,700 additional pupils arriving from Ukraine.

As the Deputy is 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 operates, its broader effectiveness and sustainability, and whether it adequately supports the provision of services to students and their families. The review will also consider the objectives of the school transport scheme in the context of other Government policies as they relate to school transport and, in particular, the potential of the school transport scheme to promote sustainability in transport, reduce car journeys and support rural development.

The review encompasses the school transport scheme for children with special educational needs. The review of the primary and post-primary school transport schemes will examine each element of the schemes and include eligibility criteria, trends, costs, cost drivers, and overall effectiveness in meeting the objectives of the schemes. The review will also examine the potential for integration of different strands of the scheme and a more co-ordinated approach with other Departments. 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 and had applied and paid on time.

Wider considerations relating to operation of the scheme are now taking place in the next phase of the review, which is under way. The technical working group has undertaken extensive consultation over recent months, including running a public survey for parents or guardians and students who use the service, as well as those who do not use the service but who would like to. These engagements have yielded extensive data, which are now being considered. The group has also consulted a broad array of stakeholders, including schools, special education interest groups, industry representatives and other Departments.

Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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I acknowledge the flexibility that has been increasingly built into the school transport system. This is less about expanding school transport and more about intensifying it.

Can the Minister get to the bottom of the occupancy rate of school buses? Are they operating half full, three quarters full, or are they full to capacity? I have raised specific locations around Waterford and Tramore where a school bus passes by the door of people who want to get to school. They do not fall outside the eligibility criteria, but almost inside, since they are too close to the school. If a school bus is passing that is not at full occupancy, can flexibility and an option for public transport be provided that addresses cost-of-living issues and our climate objectives?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I am conscious of one of the motivations of this review, since I come from a rural county and know about its importance and its potential. That motivation is to ensure that we are meeting the needs of students and families, that we are providing opportunities, and that we have a clear emphasis on value for money. We also want to ensure we are conscious of accessibility for students and of encouraging families to use buses and public transport as opposed to family cars. The Deputy referred to the cost of living. Just recently, conscious of the cost of living, there have been lower caps for multiple children, with a reduction in the cost of utilising the school transport system from €650 to €500 for secondary school children, and €200 to €150 for primary school children. The reason for the review is ensuring that we have a service to meet the needs.

Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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I do not expect the Minister to have the figures in front of her because the question is tangential to the one I tabled. Could the Department come back to me with the occupancy figures for the buses and whether they are full, three quarters or half full? If we are trying to get value for money for the taxpayer, the closer to full occupancy we can get, notwithstanding public health guidelines etc. the better. A fuller bus is more cost efficient to run.

Another matter I want to raise is tangential to what I raised in my initial question. It arises from discussions I have had with Bus Éireann and applies to many users, including me. My first experience of public transport was when I was aged six, seven or eight, going to Butlerstown national school. I am not sure it was an extremely positive experience of public transport. Can there be investment in the public transport fleet so that the first experience of public transport is positive, with a good quality bus that operates to the highest standards?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I underline the importance of this service. I am under no illusions about it and appreciate that the Deputy is not either. A significant service is being provided. More than 121,400 students avail of it. We intend to maximise use of the service. In recent years, more than 8,000 more students have availed of the service. Our objective is to ensure the maximum number of students are facilitated to avail of the school transport system. We can see benefits all round for families, the environment and so much more. The review engages all stakeholders, the general public, school communities, providers of the service and others. All aspects and the point the Deputy raised are being looked at.