Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)

Both Senators are referring to the changes in the primary school transport scheme announced in budget 2011 by the previous Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government. These changes derive from recommendations in the value for money review of the school transport scheme and include the introduction of charges, changes to the closed school rule and changes to the minimum numbers required to establish or maintain a service.

I will set out the relevant changes more fully so the Senators will have a better understanding of them. With effect from the 2011-12 school year a transport fee of €50 per annum will be introduced for eligible primary school pupils, with a maximum family charge for eligible primary school pupils only of €110 per annum. Eligible children who hold a valid medical card are exempt from paying the charge. Evidence suggests that school transport charges compare favourably with charges levied by the private sector. While the charges vary, some parents are paying between €20 and €25 per child per week which equates to about €730 or €915 per child per school year at primary level. This charge is being introduced to ensure that school transport provided for eligible primary school pupils is fully utilised in a cost effective manner. From the commencement of the 2011-12 school year, the distance criteria will be applied to all pupils attending primary schools and the exemption under the closed school rule will cease. Parents affected by the application of the distance criterion have been notified by Bus Éireann of changes to their transport eligibility with effect from the 2011-12 school year. These families may apply for concessionary transport.

From the 2012-13 school year, eligibility based on the closed school rule will cease for all new children entering primary schools. It is important to emphasise that existing primary pupils availing of transport under the closed school rule will retain transport eligibility for the duration of their schooling, provided the requisite distance is met.

In regard to this second change scheduled to be implemented in September 2012, Bus Éireann is currently conducting a detailed analysis of the on the ground impact of this for individual schools and the rural communities they serve. It will be available to me late this month or early next month and I will be more than happy to share the information with Senators.

The analysis will be based on the most up-to-date information available on current school transport usage patterns and this information is expected to be available later this summer. The likely effects of this proposed change can be examined well in advance of the 2012 implementation date.

In regard to the minimum numbers required to establish or maintain a service, the changes mean that services under the minimum numbers, either single services or which are parts of double tripping arrangements, will be discontinued. A pick up density of pupils in a distinct locality on a particular route, increasing from the current minimum of seven to ten eligible children, will be required to establish or retain services.

This brings the minimum numbers required to establish services back to 2002 levels. Eligible pupils, for whom a service is being withdrawn, can apply for the remote area grant. I thank the Senators for raising this matter.