Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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65. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the review of the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20828/23]

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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I would be grateful if the Minister updated me on the review of the school transport scheme and made a statement on the matter.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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 149,000 children, including more than 18,000 children and young people with special educational needs, are transported daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. There has been an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022-23 school year compared to the 2021-22 school year. In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for more than 5,200 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine. The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9 million.

The Department's school transport scheme is an important service. Its purpose, having regard to available resources, is to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remotely from their nearest schools.

As the Deputy indicated, a review of the scheme is under way.  The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme and its broader effectiveness and sustainability and to ensure that it serves students and their families adequately. Significant consultation has been undertaken as part of the review.  A public survey was administered for parents and guardians, for students who use the service and, probably more importantly, for those who do not use the service but who would like to.  A broad array of stakeholders including schools, special education interest groups, industry representatives and other Departments were consulted.

Phase 1 of the review examined the impact of eligibility criteria.  That report was completed in 2021.  Following consideration of this phase 1 report, the provision of temporary alleviation measures for the 2021-22 school year was approved for transport for post-primary students who were otherwise eligible for school transport but who were attending their second nearest school.  These measures have been continued for the 2022-23 school year and will continue for the 2023-24 school year. These measures mean that transport will be provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and who are attending their second nearest school, who applied for school transport by 28 April 2023 and who pay for a ticket or enter medical card details by 9 June 2023, which is the cut-off date.

Phase 2 of the review was completed late last year. Phase 3 will be completed imminently. This final report will include recommendations on the future operation of the Department’s school transport scheme. Once approved by Government, it is planned that the review will be published.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. I thank her for that information. It was encouraging to hear about the consultation that has taken place. I will raise the issue of equality with respect to school transport and make the case for reviewing the geographical eligibility limits. The Minister mentioned the second nearest school but, especially in rural areas, there is a need to go much further and broader than that. I support local schools. The innovation, dedication and student-centred learning I have seen in Clare schools are second to none. We are lucky that there is an incredibly high calibre of teaching in our many fantastic rural schools but we are not so lucky with regard to the remoteness of some of those schools. The peripheral location of a school has absolutely nothing to do with its quality. The geographical restrictions in place with respect to school transport are an example of anti-rural policy.

I will briefly mention the issue of Knockanean National School. I have written separately to the Department regarding the need for a school bus for that school. I would appreciate it if she could look at that issue and revert to me.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy very much. I appreciate her personal interest in this. I am a rural Deputy. I very much understand the importance of the school transport scheme. I will be clear that, as I have said, the geographical criteria currently require a student to live within 3.2 km of their nearest national school and to attend that school. At post-primary level, students must live within 4.8 km of their nearest school and attend that school or the next nearest. That was a concession that we gave. However, I appreciate the point the Deputy is making. The objective is for the maximum number of young people to avail of the school transport scheme where possible. I assure the Deputy that the geographical issue is very much part of the review base.

I also acknowledge that the scheme is important insofar as almost 150,000 young people currently avail of it. We have seen a considerable increase in the number availing of the scheme even in the last year. There was a 21% increase in the number of eligible students availing of it and a 38% increase in the number of concessionary places. We are also transporting 5,200 Ukrainian students. As a result of its importance, we have reduced the payment required to €50 for a primary school student, €75 for a post-primary student and €125 for a family ticket.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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As the Minister will know, Article 42 of the Constitution concerns the right to education and underpins the right of parents to be the primary educators of their children and to make conscientious decisions with respect to the education their children receive. In accordance with Article 42.4, the Department is responsible for facilitating the education of our children in concert with the rights I have mentioned. The Minister may be wondering why I am bringing up the Constitution in an exchange about the school transport scheme. I will explain. In Clare, our only option for second level education through the medium of Irish is Gaelcholáiste an Chláir in Ennis. It is not a stand-alone school. It is part of Ennis Community College. Unless the parents of students who live further than 4.8 km from the school are in a position to drop them off and collect them every single day, and most people who work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. are not, those students will not be able to learn through our first language, which has a proud tradition in Clare. Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I again emphasise and underline that I appreciate the importance of the school transport scheme and the importance of young people having the opportunity to attend the school that meets their needs. It is important to again raise the point that, at post-primary level, students had to live within 4.8 km of and attend their nearest school, but we have extended provision to the next nearest school. If the next nearest school happens to be full, students will be accommodated to reach the next nearest school again. That is a point that is often lost. If your first nearest or second nearest school is full, that is, if you have applied to the school and there is no place available to you, you are eligible for transport to the third nearest or the fourth nearest school. That is an important consideration. We are showing as much flexibility as we possibly can. I will have to look at the specific case the Deputy raised with me earlier. Was it a national school?

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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It was Knockanean National School.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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We will revert to the Deputy on that. In the context of meeting needs relating to the provision of Gaelscoileanna or Gaelcholáistí, we are doing a body of work to promote the Irish language and its importance. Where there is such a need, it will be looked at in the overall context.