Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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87. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe for the completion of the full review of the school transport scheme; the timeframe for the publication of the review and its recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4556/23]

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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What is the timeframe for the completion of a full review of the school transport scheme, and the publication of that review and its recommendations?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, more than 147,900 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year to just over 3,800 children and young people who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine. The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €332.2 million.

A review of the school transport scheme commenced in 2021. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and its sustainability, and to ensure it serves students and their families adequately. Significant consultation has been undertaken as part of this review. A public survey was administered for parents, guardians and students who use the service and, perhaps more importantly, those who do not use the service but would like to be in a position to access it. A broad array of stakeholders including schools, special education interest groups, industry representatives and other Departments were all consulted as part of this review. Phase 1 of the review examined the impact of the eligibility criteria on mainstream pupils who were eligible for transport to their nearest school but attending their next-nearest school. The report was completed in June 2021.

Following consideration of this report, the provision of temporary alleviation measures for transport for the 2021-22 school year was approved for post-primary students who are otherwise eligible for school transport, but were attending their second-nearest school and had applied and paid on time. These measures have continued and are provided for in the 2022-23 school year, pending completion of the review. These measures mean that transport is provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second-nearest school, and who applied for school transport and paid on time. Phase 2 of the review has progressed significantly and is being completed in tandem with phase 3 which has also begun.

While work on the review was impacted somewhat by the current conflict in Ukraine and by the increased demand for the scheme in summer 2022, officials are working to complete phase 3 of the review within the coming weeks, with recommendations on the future operation of the Department’s school transport scheme then being made. Once approved by the Government, it is planned that the review will be published.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister. I presume changes to the scheme will be in place for September 2023.

I will raise a situation that arises in the townland in which I live, where a cluster of students are attending their second-nearest school in Cavan town. There are four secondary schools in that town. Historically, students in the area where I live have gone to Cavan town rather than the nearest school in Ballyjamesduff. They are only seen as concessionary students but if they avail of a concessionary ticket, they have to travel up to 4 km to get the bus, which means there are maybe ten or 12 parents who are dropping students off to the bus at a distance of 4 km, returning home, and then again travelling 4 km to the bus and returning home. Parents are travelling a lot, which means fuel costs and extra traffic on the road, if we take climate action concerns into consideration. Will the Department consider expanding the scheme where there is a cluster of students who would traditionally be seen as concessionary-based students? I live in the Kilnaleck area of Cavan, where this issue is arising. I am sure it arises in other areas too.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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While this review has been up and running we have, in the interim, introduced some measures. The Deputy specifically referenced the issue of the next-nearest school at post-primary level. That temporary alleviation measure was introduced for the 2021-22 school year and continued for 2022-23.

There is a criterion for eligibility, namely, that students have to live within 3.2 km of their primary school and be attending the nearest school. At post-primary level, the distance is 4.8 km and students must be attending their nearest or next-nearest school. I am conscious of the issue around Kilnaleck the Deputy raised. As she said, school preference there is historical. I acknowledge that this has also been raised with me very specifically. Indeed, Deputy Niamh Smyth tabled a question in respect of it and it has also been raised by other Deputies in the constituency. To be very clear, eligibility criteria are very much part of the review process. We are looking at eligibility in respect of distance, nearest school, next-nearest school and so on.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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My son is one of the students who is availing of a private transport arrangement that is costing €40 per student per week. That adds up to €1,300 per year, not including exam periods if students are in third or sixth year.

Quite a number of students this year who would traditionally have been concessionary ticket holders lost out on their bus places. This was because the transport offered was free and those who were eligible but never previously used the transport applied for tickets and were given them ahead of those who had used them for possibly ten to 15 years. I have been contacted by parents this week who still have no school bus places for their students to get them to school. Will capacity be increased? Will transport be free as we come into the next school year? Has a decision been made regarding that?

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I commend the Minister. Last year's free school transport scheme was fantastic. It had its teething problems but the very concept of it was one of the most positive we have had in years. Our colleague in the Government, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, believes in public transport, as we all do. While it takes years to build railway networks, which are very linear and do not go everywhere, a school bus is transformative in a rural community. It takes 50 passengers and keeps 50 cars at home, which allows parents to go to work and save some time in the mornings. It was one of the best schemes I have seen this Government introduce. I would love to see it rolled out even further. As someone said to me, five buses equals one train. We can get to wherever we want to get to from a climate change perspective much quicker by having buses on the road.

I used to teach in Parteen school, which is a small rural school, where each morning and afternoon 340 school drop-offs had to be done. Imagine what could be saved if we had more school transport. I again praise the Minister and her officials. I would love to see the school transport scheme expanded even further.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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On the specific points raised regarding increased capacity, I will be very clear that there has been a 25% increase in capacity this year, which is an phenomenal increase. More than 25,600 additional places have been provided this year as a consequence of the scheme. That includes a 26% increase in provision for those with special educational needs. Everything is being looked at as part of the review, including costs, distance and all the other criteria. We are working as efficiently as possible in the Department to ensure we are in a position to have the review completed within the coming weeks, which is my expectation. It is an enormous body of work. I acknowledge the significant co-operation we have received from all stakeholders, including parents, guardians, students, the wider community, and the stakeholders and providers within the system. We are working assiduously to ensure the review will be completed in the coming weeks. When completed, it will be presented to the Government and there will be a requirement to engage with other Departments regarding our ability to progress matters. Once the review has been presented to the Government, it will be published.