Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

371. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional school transport tickets that have been issued in County Wexford following the additional funding provided in Budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59355/22]

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 the 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.

Following the announcement of additional funding to cater for additional pupils on a temporary basis, Bus Éireann have been prioritising areas where there were “on time concessionary pupils” who had tickets in the previous school year. Bus Éireann have advised that additional pupils who met the above criteria have been catered for in Wexford.

This time last year there were circa 103,600 children on school transport scheme services. Already over 127,800 tickets for the 2022/2023 school year have been issued to applicants for the new school year so already in the region of 24,200 additional places have been created. This is an increase of 23%. Specifically, in regard to concessionary tickets there has been an increase of 33%.

Bus Eireann has advised that so far this year, close to 7,000 tickets have issued for mainstream school transport routes in Wexford. This is an increase of 23% on tickets issued in the same period last year. This includes additional tickets which have been issued for on time concessionary applications following the post budget announcement.