Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for her question on school transport. The School Transport 2030 report, which was published in early 2024, marks the largest review of the school transport system since it was established in the late 1960s. I am committed to working to achieve the report's recommendation of expanding access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030 and to continue to improve the scheme so it provides a valued service to those families who rely on it, while providing value for money for the Exchequer.

The recommended changes to the future operation of the scheme include the expansion of the current eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport where possible. A phased implementation of the reviewer's recommendations began at the start of the current school year, 2024-25. As was indicated at the time of the launch of the review, a number of pilots were trialled in the 2024-25 school year, in conjunction with the Department of Transport and Bus Éireann. As was also indicated at the time, it was intended that following closure of the application process for 2024-25 school year, consideration would be given to further potential pilot projects around the country. To that end, I note that the Senator said that the portal is currently open. We are awaiting the figures when that is completed. A total of 14 pilot projects are under way this year. These pilots are currently being evaluated and they will provide a valuable insight into the impact of increased demand on the scheme, the potential for integrating public transport, which is not always possible in rural areas such as the Senator mentioned and, indeed, in the area I come from, and opportunities to promote more sustainable models of transport. The findings from the evaluation will guide the planning and implementation needed for a national roll-out of a revised school transport scheme.Bus Éireann’s family portal is now open to accept new transport applications for the 2025-26 school year, and planning for the 2025-26 school year is well under way between the Department of Education and Bus Éireann.