Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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788.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the total and annual savings from 2024 to 2030 incorporated in the recommendations of the school transport review by assuming a rising uptake of SEN pupils using mainstream services from 5% in year one to 20% in the fourth year of implementation, in tabular form. [32626/24]

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 161,600 children are being transported on a daily basis to schools throughout the country.

This figure comprises over 135,000 pupils travelling on mainstream services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine

The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.

It is assumed that the SEN pupils Integrating onto mainstream transport will commence in 2027 through to 2030 and onwards. From 2027 to 2030 the following are the associated estimated savings on an annual basis:-

2027 - €21.8m

2028 - €52.0m

2029- € 92.5m

2030 - € 136.9m

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