Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I should outline that I am here on behalf of the Minister for Education. The Department of Education does not come under my remit but I have a very detailed statement, which runs to ten pages. I do not think I will have time to deliver all of it. Before addressing the specific matter raised, I will provide an outline of the extent of the school transport scheme. 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 161,600 children, including more 135,000 pupils travelling on primary and post-primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from the Ukraine, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382 million.

Under the current terms of the school transport scheme, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 km from their nearest national school and are attending that school, having regard for ethos and language. At post-primary level, they are eligible for the scheme where they reside not less than 4.8 km from and are attending their nearest post-primary educational centre, as determined by the Department and Bus Éireann, having regard to the ethos and the language. Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time, that is, apply and pay on time, are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Children who are eligible for school transport but for whom no services are available may be offered the remote area grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements. The remote area grant is also payable for eligible children who may have to travel 3.2 km or more to or from a designated pick-up and set-down point. Temporary alleviation measures, TAMs, at post-primary level, which have been in place since 2019, are being continued for the 2024-25 school year. Under these measures, transport is provided where there is a route in operation and where capacity exists for concessionary post-primary schools, for those who are eligible for transport to their nearest school, who are attending their second year of school and who applied and paid on time. Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only and will be facilitated where spare seats are available after eligible children have been accommodated. Where the number of ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available, Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for the spare seats using an agreed selection process.

It should be noted that planning for school transport services in any given year will commence in the December to January period preceding the start of that school year. In this regard, planning for the 2024-25 school year is well under way and Department officials regularly engage with Bus Éireann. A review of the school transport scheme has been completed and the School Transport 2030 report has been published. This report was conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and sustainability and to ensure it services students and their families adequately. It marks the largest review of the school transport scheme since it was established back in 1967. The Government is committed to working to achieve the report’s recommendations of expanding access to the scheme in order that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030.