Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

462. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the engagement that she has had with Bus Éireann, private bus operators and school boards of management in relation to the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51730/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.

In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the coming school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.

Ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.

My Department commenced a review of the School Transport Scheme in February 2021. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme and how it currently operates, its broader effectiveness and sustainability and that it adequately supports the provision of services to students and their families.

The review encompasses the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs. The review of the Primary and Post-Primary School Transport Schemes will examine each element of the schemes and include eligibility criteria, trends, costs, cost drivers, and overall effectiveness in meeting the objectives of the schemes. The review will also examine the potential for integration of different strands of the scheme and a more co-ordinated approach with other Government Departments that also use transport services.

Wider considerations relating to operation of the scheme are taking place in the current phase of the review. 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 those who do not use the service but who would like to. These engagements have yielded extensive data for consideration. The Group has also consulted with a broad array of stakeholders including schools, parents, special education interest groups, industry representatives and other Government Departments.

It is anticipated that the final phases of the review will be completed shortly with recommendations 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.

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

463. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans to change or remove the upper age limit for driving a school bus from 70 years of age; if he will increase the number of bus drivers eligible to drive a school bus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51754/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.

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.

It is Bus Éireann company policy that normal retirement age for all Bus Éireann staff is currently 66 years. However, Bus Éireann part-time school bus drivers and drivers nominated by private operators who operate services as part of the School Transport Scheme may continue to perform in the role provided, they hold the requisite license and satisfy an annual medical examination until they retire at age 70. This policy and criteria are applied to all drivers who provide school transport services on behalf of Bus Éireann equally.

There are no current plans to change this age limit, however the matter will continue to be kept under review.