Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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105. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills an ndearna agus an ndéanann an Roinn Oideachais conradh le comhlachtaí príobháideacha tacsaí nó bus chun seirbhís a sholáthar do dhaltaí a bhfuil cónaí orthu i gceantair iargúlta nach bhfuil seirbhís ag feidhmiú iontu faoin Scéim Iompair Scoile; mura bhfuil seirbhís ar fáil faoin Scéim Iompair Scoile, an bhféadfaí an Deontas Ceantar Iargúlta a mheas agus a bhronnadh bunaithe ar chostas seirbhís tacsaí/bus don aistear; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [5038/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Is oibríocht shuntasach í an Scéim Iompair Scoile atá á bainistiú ag Bus Éireann thar ceann na Roinne Oideachais.  Sa scoilbhliain reatha iompraítear os cionn 147,900 páiste, lena n-áirítear os cionn 18,000 páiste a bhfuil riachtanais speisialta oideachais acu, ar bhonn laethúil chuig bunscoileanna agus iar-bhunscoileanna ar fud na tíre.

Chomh maith leis sin, tá seirbhísí scéime iompair scoile á gcur ar fáil sa scoilbhliain reatha do bhreis agus 3,800 páiste a tháinig go hÉirinn ón Úcráin.

B'ionann costas iomlán na scéime agus €332.2m sa bhliain 2022.

Tá leanaí incháilithe le haghaidh iompair ag an mbunleibhéal áit a bhfuil cónaí orthu nach lú ná 3.2 chiliméadar ón scoil náisiúnta is gaire dóibh agus iad ag freastal ar an scoil náisiúnta is gaire dóibh, agus ag an iar-bhunleibhéal áit a bhfuil cónaí orthu 4.8 chiliméadar ar a laghad ón iar-bhunscoil/ionad oideachais is gaire dóibh de réir mar a chinneann an Roinn/Bus Éireann, ag féachaint d’éiteas agus teanga.

Ní chuirtear maoiniú ar fáil do chonraitheoirí bus príobháideacha atá ag feidhmiú lasmuigh de Scéim Iompair Scoile na Roinne. Déanann Bus Éireann pleanáil agus bainistiú ar an líonra ar fud na tíre thar ceann na Roinne chun a chinntiú go gcuirtear seirbhísí ar fáil de réir riachtanais shonracha na Roinne. Tá Bus Éireann freagrach as oibreoirí príobháideacha a tholgadh de réir na reachtaíochta soláthair. 

Teastaíonn líon íosta de 10 leanbh incháilithe a bhfuil cónaí orthu i gceantar ar leith, de réir mar a chinneann Bus Éireann, sula bhféadfar breithniú a dhéanamh ar sheirbhísí iompair scoile a bhunú nó a choinneáil.

Rinneadh freastal ar leanaí atá i dteideal iompar scoile agus a bhfuil an próiseas iarratais curtha i gcrích acu in am ar sheirbhísí iompair scoile ina bhfuil seirbhísí den sórt sin i bhfeidhm.

D'fhéadfaí Deontas Ceantair Cianda a thairiscint do leanaí atá incháilithe d'iompar scoile ach nach bhfuil aon seirbhís ar fáil dóibh i dtreo an chostais a bhaineann le socruithe iompair phríobháideacha a dhéanamh. Tá an Deontas Ceantair Cianda iníoctha freisin do leanaí incháilithe a mbeadh orthu taisteal 3.2km nó níos mó chuig nó ó phointe ainmnithe pioctha suas/ligthe amach.

Mar chuid de na critéir, ní mór do theaghlaigh ar mian leo leas a bhaint as iompar scoile agus a bhfuil a stádas incháilitheachta measúnaithe acu iarratas a dhéanamh ar líne roimh an dáta deiridh chuig Bus Éireann ag: www.buseireann.ie

Ba é Dé hAoine, an 29 Aibreán 2022/23 an dáta deiridh d'iarratais ar iompar scoile don Scoilbhliain 2022/23.

Mar is eol don Teachta, chuir mo Roinn tús le hathbhreithniú ar an Scéim Iompair Scoile i mí Feabhra 2021.  Is éard atá i gceist leis na céimeanna deiridh den athbhreithniú ná anailís mhionsonraithe ar chuspóirí na scéime agus scrúdú ar chritéir incháilitheachta, feidhmíocht scéime, caiteachas scéime agus anailís ar rátaí reatha Cianlimistéir agus Deontais Iompair Speisialta, agus an poitéinseal maidir le comhtháthú scéime.

Cé go raibh tionchar éigin ag dúshláin na paindéime ar obair ar an athbhreithniú, tionchar na coimhlinte reatha san Úcráin, agus ag an éileamh méadaithe ar an scéim i samhradh 2022 mar gheall ar tháillí a bheith á dtarscaoileadh, meastar go gcuirfear an t-athbhreithniú i gcrích go luath le moltaí maidir le feidhmiú Scéim Iompair Scoile na Roinne amach anseo.

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.

Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Funding is not provided to private bus contractors operating outside of the Department’s School Transport Scheme. Bus Éireann plans and manages the countrywide network on behalf of the Department to ensure that services are provided in line with the specific requirements of the Department. Bus Éireann is responsible for contracting private operators in line with procurement legislation. 

A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time have been accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Children who are eligible for school transport but for whom no service is available may be offered a Remote Area Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements. The Remote Area Grant is also payable for eligible children who may have to travel 3.2kms or more to or from a designated pick up/set down point.

As part of the criteria, families who wish to avail of school transport and have their eligibility status assessed must apply on-line before the closing date to Bus Éireann at: www.buseireann.ie

The closing date for school transport applications for the 2022/23 School Year was Friday, 29th April 2022.

As the Deputy is aware, my Department commenced a review of the School Transport Scheme in February 2021.  The final phases of the review involve a detailed analysis on the objectives of the scheme and an examination eligibility criteria, scheme performance, scheme expenditure and an examination of current Remote Area and Special Transport Grant rates, and the potential for scheme integration.

While work on the review was impacted somewhat by the challenges of the pandemic, the impact of the current conflict in Ukraine, and by the increased demand for the scheme in summer 2022 due to fees being waived, it is anticipated that the review will be completed shortly with recommendations on the future operation of the Department’s School Transport Scheme.