Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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77. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which she aspires to ensure the widest possible availability of school transport in Kildare North, and throughout the country, in time for the September school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22872/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf my Department. In the current school year, over 149,000 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 5,200 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.

A review of the School Transport Scheme is underway. 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.

Phase 1 of the review, which was completed in June 2021, examined the impact of eligibility criteria on mainstream pupils who were eligible for transport to their nearest school but attending their next nearest school.

Following consideration of this report, for the 2021/2022 school year, the provision of temporary alleviation measures was approved for transport for post-primary students who were otherwise eligible for school transport, but were attending their second nearest school and had applied and paid on time. These measures have been continued for the current school year, and will again continue in the 2023/2024 school year pending completion of the review.

It is planned the review will be completed shortly with recommendations on the future operation of the Department’s School Transport Scheme. Once approved by Government, it is planned that the review will be published.

For the 2023/2024 school year, it remains that 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.

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

Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who complete the application process on time, are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

In relation to the topic raised by the Deputy, the Department has received correspondence in relation to school transport in the North Kildare area representing families who have not received tickets for the current school year (2022/2023) as they are not eligible for transport under the terms of the School Transport Scheme. Families have been made aware that if they have applied to attend their nearest school in regards to ethos and language and have been advised by the school authorities that it is full, my Department will consider if students can be deemed eligible for transport to the next nearest school. To establish that the nearest school is full, parents must provide certain information to School Transport Section of my Department. Full details are available on the School Transport section of my Department’s website. To date School Transport Section has not received required documentation from any families in the area.

With regard to planning services for the 2023/2024 school year, Bus Éireann will review applications and plan routes during the summer months. The closing date for new applications for the 2023/2024 school year was Friday 28th April. The closing date for payment/entering medical details for tickets for the 2023/2024 school year in Friday 9th June. It is only after this time that Bus Éireann will know how many applications have been received and paid for, and, at that point services will be planned for the upcoming school year. Pending completion of the School Transport review, there will be no removal or downsizing of buses/routes for the 2023/2024 school year.