Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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108. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the review of the school transport system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58432/22]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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136. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for the school transport scheme going forward; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58437/22]

Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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142. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has considered the possibilities afforded by integrating the school transport system into the wider public transport network to unlock efficiencies of scale and network design; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57828/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 136 and 142 together.

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. The cost of the scheme in 2021 was €289m.

The School Transport Scheme is a vital service for families and children.

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.

As you are aware 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, its broader effectiveness and sustainability, and to ensure that it serves students and their families adequately.

The review encompasses the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs and the Primary and Post-Primary School Transport Schemes to include an examination of eligibility criteria, trends, costs and cost drivers, and overall effectiveness in meeting scheme's objectives.

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. The review will consider issues such as climate action, supporting rural development and promoting where possible initiatives that encourage walking and cycling to school.

Wider considerations relating to operation of the scheme are now taking place in the second phase of the review. The Technical Working Group has undertaken extensive consultation over the last number of months; 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. The Group has also consulted with a broad array of stakeholders including schools, special education interest groups, industry representatives and other Government Departments.

The Steering Group will continue to report to me on an interim basis as the review progresses.

While work on the review is being impacted somewhat by challenges including the pandemic and the impact on resources arising from the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, it is anticipated that the completion of the final phases of the review will be in the shortest timeframe possible. I will then examine and consider the final recommendations once received from the steering group on the future operation of the Department’s School Transport Scheme.