Written answers

Tuesday, 24 May 2022

Department of Education and Skills

School Transport

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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365. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the budget allocation for the school transport scheme in 2022; the number of students that this will provide public transport for in 2022; the average cost of providing school transport for one student for one year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25851/22]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 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 €289m in 2021. It should be noted that of the total spend on school transport services in 2021 some €49.2m was spent on Covid-related measures.

The budget that has been allocated to the school transport scheme for the 2022/23 school year is € 269m. 

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. 

In 2021, receipts from school transport charges amounted to approximately €12m (net of refunds issued arising from Covid related school closures).  If school transport fees were to be abolished and eligibility criteria remained the same, the cost of providing free transport to each child availing of school transport would be approximately an additional cost of €12m on the total cost of transport for the year. This figure is based on current patterns of school transport uptake and could vary depending on eligibility and demand. 

School Transport is a demand led scheme and services are planned annually based on the number of eligible pupils who apply and pay on time. The closing date for receipt of payment for school transport for the 2022/23 school year is 29th July 2022.  The final number of children to be accommodated on school transport services for the 2022/23 school year will not be known until after this date.

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