Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is very welcome to the House to discuss this very important issue. I am aware that she has been addressing it all day so I thank her for her attention and for the opportunity to discuss the school transport scheme. I am glad that a review of the criteria is taking place but I call on the Minister to confirm tonight that included in that review is the criterion of ethos. The school transport scheme does not allow children who are of no religious persuasion to avail of their nearest non-denominational school. As transport currently is not provided to the nearest non-denominational school, children of no religious denomination are forced to attend their nearest school which could have a religious ethos. Under the terms of the post-primary school transport scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 km away and are attending their nearest post-primary school, having regard to ethos and language. Ethos, for the purposes of the scheme, refers to minority religions. The 2022 census form offered "No religion" as the first option for the very first time. In 2016, it was the last option on the list for those declaring religion.In 2016 10% of people ticked the "No religion" box. We do not yet have the figures from the 2022 census but we can be safe in the knowledge that it will be higher than 10%. This is a particular issue in Skerries in north County Dublin. Approximately 13 families who are of no religion send their children to their nearest Educate Together secondary school, which is Bremore Educate Together in the town of Balbriggan. They have been told they are not eligible for the school transport scheme because it is not their nearest secondary school. Their nearest secondary school has a Christian ethos and these families fundamentally do not want to send their children to a school with a Christian ethos. These families are being discriminated against because they have no religion. This is completely unacceptable in a republic. The criteria for the school transport scheme are not fit for purpose in a modern Ireland. I am very glad a review is taking place. Will the Minister please confirm the ethos element of the criteria is under review?

Compounding the problem for families in Skerries who are sending their children to Bremore Educate Together secondary school is the fact that Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann service times from Skerries to Balbriggan are unsuitable for the start time of the educate together secondary school. There was a bus on the timetable that somewhat suited the families but it has been axed. The families sending their children to that educate together secondary school have no public transport option. They are forced to use private transport. This is completely unsustainable and discriminatory. In her response will the Minister specifically refer to the ethos criterion of the scheme and whether it is included in the review?