Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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599.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 204 of 25 June 2024, the reason for the estimated increase in the cost of transporting SEN pupils under the school transport scheme from €11,550 per pupil in 2024 to €20,250 per pupil in 2030; the factors underlying the cost differences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31036/24]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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600.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 204 of 25 June 2024, if she can explain the factors and outputs associated with the 'total review costs', which are estimated to range from €508,000 in 2024 to -€6,921,751 in 2030. [31037/24]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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601.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 204 of 25 June 2024, the estimated number of SEN pupils that would be integrated into mainstream school transport services in each of the years 2024 to 2030 respectively, in tabular form. [31038/24]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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602.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 204 of 25 June 2024, to outline the forecasted changes in eligibility criteria for the school transport scheme as phased in each of the years 2024 to 2030, including a breakdown of phased changes to distance criteria each year, and the associated additional pupils transported under the scheme in each year. [31039/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 599 to 602, inclusive, together.

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/2024 school year over 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.

As previously outlined, it is estimated that an additional 100,000 children, above the current pupil numbers on transport, could be accommodated by 2030, at which point due to demographics numbers will decline somewhat thereafter but with an expected increase of 80,000 pupils on current school year numbers by 2040.

With regard to the proposed changes in eligibility criteria, under the proposed revised eligibility criteria, the proposal is, over time, to reduce the distance criteria to 1km and 2km at primary and post-primary respectively (from the current 3.2km and 4.8km respectively). All children who meet this distance criteria from their school of attendance will be accommodated on transport where there is an existing route. The distance criteria will not apply in towns and cities that are served by public transport as in these towns, children will be encouraged to use public transport that is available to them. Work is underway for the phased implementation of the review’s recommendations, which will begin in September 2024. This will include a number of pilot projects which will include trialing the reduced distance criteria in those pilot areas. It is intended, subject to resources, to commence implementing the revised eligibility criteria in the 2025/2026 school year. Initially, the eligibility distances will be reduced to 2km at both primary and post-primary level, with a view to reducing the distance to 1km at primary and remaining at 2kms at post-primary in 2028, subject to resources.

With regard to the SEN transport scheme, the review did not recommend any immediate changes to the eligibility criteria for the SEN scheme, in that the scheme will continue to provide transport for eligible children to the nearest school that is or can be resourced to meet their special educational needs and that this will continue to be determined in consultation with the NCSE. However, as per a recommendation in the review, a Working Group has been established to enable ongoing improvements to the SEN Scheme. In the interests of promoting inclusivity, steps will be taken to support children with special educational needs whose parents wish for them to travel on available mainstream services, where they wish to do so. It is envisaged that some 20% of children availing of SEN transport will be supported to travel on mainstream transport by the year 2030. It is assumed in the 2025/2026 school (year 1) that there will be an uptake rate of 5%, increasing over the following four years to a 20% uptake rate in 4th year of implementation of the recommendations of the review.

With regard to the factors and outputs associated with the total review costs, a comprehensive cost benefit analysis was conducted as part of the final phase of the review. As part of this cost benefit analysis a number of options for the future operation of the scheme were considered and each option was fully costed. The cost to operate the scheme under the recommended option is set out in the published final report – School Transport 2030. As previously outlined to the Deputy, there are certain assumptions and projections used in compiling these costs, as follows:

1. It is assumed the current years’ costs are the base costs.

2. Costs will continue to grow at the current rate out to 2031.

3. Savings to be made on the SEN scheme are anticipated as a result of inclusivity on mainstream services, it is assumed in year 1 an uptake rate of 5%, increasing over the next four years to a 20% uptake rate in 4th year of implementation.

4. Is it assumed that costs associated with the reduction in parental fees and with additional services to cater for the increased demand brought about by the cost-of-living incentives, will be replaced by the review costs.

5. Ukrainian costs will continue as required.

With regard the estimated increase in the cost of transporting SEN pupils under the school transport scheme from €11,550 per pupil in 2024 to €20,250 per pupil in 2030, it should be noted that the cost per pupil for all pupils (SEN and mainstream) will increase over the period. With specific regard to the increase in the cost per pupil on SEN services, this is as a result of factors such as projected increased demand on the scheme resulting increased demand on contractor services, increased numbers of Bus Escorts and associated costs, Special Transport grants, increased contractor rates, and the move to more sustainable vehicles in line with climate action targets and the associated cost of same. It should be noted that the financial and economic analysis undertaken in the cost benefit analysis were completed in line with the guidance in the Public Spending Code.

As previously outlined to the Deputy, officials from School Transport Section of my Department are happy to meet with the Deputy to discuss in greater detail any queries she may have.