Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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430. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of the school transport review within her Department; if in the interim, she will provide clarity on the school transport service for the 2023-2024 academic year; if it is her intention to charge fees to parents for this service in the 2023-2024 academic year; the steps she is taking to ensure that the service for 2023-2024 is planned thus avoiding the chaos of autumn 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4500/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.  In the current school year over 147,900 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 3,800 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €332.2m.

A review of the School Transport Scheme commenced in February 2021.  The review, which is being conducted over a number of phases, 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.

Phase 1 of the review, an examination of issues a report on eligibility with an examination of issues for mainstream pupils relating to the nearest and next nearest school was completed in June 2021. Following commencement of the review the Steering Group presented me with an initial interim report in June 2021, with regard to eligibility and with an examination of issues for mainstream pupils relating to the nearest and next nearest school. Following consideration of this report, for the 2021/2022 school year, temporary alleviation measures were approved for transport for post-primary students  which meant school transport services were provided for a number of post-primary pupils who were otherwise eligible for school transport but were attending their second nearest school and had applied and paid on time.  These measures are being continued for the current 2022/23 school year, pending completion of the review.  

Work is continuing on the final phases of the review, which involve a detailed analysis on the objectives of the scheme and an examination eligibility criteria, scheme performance, scheme expenditure and the potential for scheme integration. While work on the review was impacted somewhat by the challenges of the pandemic and the impact of the current conflict in Ukraine, 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

Planning for the operation of the school transport scheme for the 2023/24 is expected to be completed shortly.  Bus Éireann will advertise the details of the 2023/2024 school year process through their website and social media platforms. Details will also be published on the Department’s website and, in line with normal practice, will also be communicated to Oireachtas Members.