Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I once again thank Senators for the opportunity to update the House on school transport for the current school year. I will reiterate what I outlined at the outset, which is that 126,000 tickets have been issued to applicants for the 2022-23 school year under the main scheme alone. At the start of the last school year, approximately 103,600 children were being carried on mainstream school transport services and, therefore, in the region of 22,400 additional places have been created. All eligible pupils who applied on time this year have been facilitated on a service for the 2022-23 school year. There has been an increase in the number of tickets allocated across all counties, with an increase of more than 18% in the number of tickets issued to eligible pupils and an increase of more than 27% in the number of concessionary tickets issued to pupils when compared with the start of the 2021-22 school year.

While the temporary waiving of fees has led to an unprecedented expansion of the scheme with many more eligible and concessionary applicants receiving tickets than ever before, I acknowledge that the increase in the number of applications has led to frustration over delays. However, it is important to note that the normal eligibility criteria for the scheme still apply and that tickets continue to be allocated in line with these criteria. As I said previously, there has been an unprecedented increase in applications from families whose children are eligible for school transport this year. These children and young people must be prioritised as dictated by the scheme. I am aware that this had led to a particular frustration this year as some families whose children attend their third, fourth or even fifth closest school or who live within the distance limits and who have held tickets previously did not receive one. Bus Éireann is continuing to assess options to provide transport to pupils who held concessionary tickets in previous years where temporary additional capacity is available to do so. It is again important to stress that constraints in sourcing vehicles and drivers in certain areas of the country may mean that it takes some extra time to explore solutions to providing this additional capacity for those who did not meet the eligibility criteria.

As I mentioned, the Department is conducting a review of the school transport scheme. Wider considerations relating to the operation of the scheme are currently taking place in this phase of the review. As Senators will be aware, this review is long overdue and I am pleased that, as Minister, I initiated it. As part of the current phase of the review, the technical working group has undertaken extensive consultation, including running a public survey for parents, guardians and students who use the service and, perhaps more important, for those who do not use the service but would like to. These engagements have yielded extensive data for consideration. The group has also consulted with a broad array of stakeholders, including schools, special education interest groups, industry representatives, other Departments and our European counterparts. While work on the review was somewhat impacted by challenges posed by the pandemic and the current conflict in Ukraine, it is anticipated that the final phases of the review will be completed shortly with recommendations to issue on the future operation of the Department's school transport scheme. The steering group will continue to report to me on an interim basis as the review progresses.

I will conclude by again acknowledging that, when school transport fees were waived, which was a cost-of-living measure as Senators have acknowledged, it was clear that this was for those who met the eligibility criteria. It behoves everyone within this Chamber and elsewhere to acknowledge that there have always been eligibility criteria. There are distance limits of 3.2 km from the nearest primary school and 4.8 km from the nearest or next nearest post-primary school. Those are the criteria. I am not for one minute suggesting that everything about the existing criteria or the existing operation is perfect. It is for that reason that I took the decision to undertake a root-and-branch review of the entire school transport system. This was not before time. There were opportunities previously but they were not taken. As I have articulated, that review is ongoing. Let us be clear that this waiver of school transport fees was introduced for those who met the eligibility criteria.

Let us also concede that a significant number of additional tickets have been provided for. The Senators all represent different areas and come from different backgrounds. In County Galway alone, 8,352 tickets were issued last year; this year, 10,372 have been issued. In County Kildare, 4,607 tickets were issued last year and 5,699 this year. In County Cork, there were 14,047 last year and 16,782 this year. In County Clare, there were 3,052 issued last year and in excess of 3,771 have been issued this year. This time last year, 103,6000 tickets had been issued and 126,000 tickets have been issued so far this year. This represents an increase of 22% in the number of tickets issued. It must not be forgotten that there has also been an increase of 18% in the number of concessionary tickets, which is far in excess of the 10,000 Senator Ó Donnghaile's party suggested should be catered for.

The Senator specifically referenced special education. Children with special educational needs are eligible to apply for the transport scheme at any point in the year. There is no particular cut-off point. At this point, 4,775 new applications are being provided for and there are 17,600 places for children with special educational needs, SEN, in total. This represents an increase of more than 2,000. Because applications can arrive at any point in the year, there can at times be additional difficulties in sourcing transport where there is not capacity. For that reason, grants are made available in the interim until bus transport can be provided. There are also issues in recruiting personnel to support the students as they travel on the bus. However, it is important to say that students with special educational needs can apply for school transport at any point.

I acknowledge the comments regarding summer provision. I note the Senator's particular interest in this area. The Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, and myself were pleased to announce that €40 million for children with SEN and children at risk of educational disadvantage. Work is ongoing to see how this can be broadened to ensure the greatest number of schools are supported in offering this provision to the maximum number of students.

I acknowledge the other points the Senator raised regarding bus drivers and the cut-off point at 70 years of age. That is a matter for consideration by Bus Éireann. The company informed us that it keeps this under continuous review but that is its current cut-off point. There will always be a particularly stringent threshold when transporting children but this is being kept under review.

I acknowledge and appreciate Senators' interest in, and ongoing commitment to, these issues. In the broadest context, it is important to say that we have seen a significant increase in the number of tickets being made available. There has been an increase of more than 22% in the number of tickets for mainstream transport and an increase of 18% in the number of concessionary tickets while more than 2,000 additional places have been provided for those with SEN. The work continues.