Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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116. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps that will be taken in the future to improve school bus transport given the current costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2177/21]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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117. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration has been given to a new structure governing school transport given the difficulties that have arisen over recent years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2178/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together.

School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 113,100 children, including over 14,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.

The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. 

All children who are eligible for school transport and who completed the application and payment process on time have been accommodated on school transport services for the 2020/21 school year where such services are in operation.

In October 2019, my predecessor announced a review of the school transport scheme with a view to ensuring funds are being spent in the most effective way  to meet the objectives of the scheme.  Terms of reference and the scope of the review have been drafted and a Steering Group has been established.

Given the current evolving situation with Covid-19 and the continued restrictions the work of the Steering Group has been delayed. It is intended to convene the Steering Group shortly and to agree and supplement revised terms of reference to reflect the Programme for Government.

The Review will build on the proposals in the Programme for Government as they relate to school transport, including examining the options to reduce car journeys and assessing how the School Transport Scheme can work in liaison with the Safe Routes to Schools Programme; examining the options for providing a better value and a better service for students, including and examining issues such as the nearest or next-nearest school.