Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

172. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plan to progress the recommendation in the School Transport 2030 Review of the School Transport Scheme - Phase 3 Report to rewrite the published mainstream schemes to reflect the amended eligibility criteria, with regard to distance, ethos, terminology for non-eligible applicants, minimum numbers criteria and nearest school criteria; the timeline for implementation given the recommendation to implement in the short-term and for the 2024-2025 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40791/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 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 the Deputy is aware, a review of the School Transport Scheme has been completed. This review was conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness, and sustainability and to ensure it services students and their families adequately.

The School Transport Scheme 2030 report, which was published earlier this year, marks the largest review of the School Transport Scheme since it was established in 1967. The Government is committed to working to achieve the report’s recommendation of expanding access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030. Throughout the review, the value of the School Transport Scheme to both families and in supporting wider Government policies has been very apparent. In summary, school transport not only plays an important part in supporting children's access to education, but it also aligns to wider Government objectives.

Overall, the recommended changes to the future operation of the Scheme include expansion of the current eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure the best value for money to the Exchequer.

A phased implementation of the review’s recommendations began at the start of this school year. As indicated at the time of the launch of the review, the implementation includes a shared effort between the Department of Education and the Department of Transport, supported by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Bus Éireann, to pilot and introduce greater integration of existing public transport networks with post-primary school transport routes.

It is intended, subject to resources, to commence implementing the revised eligibility criteria in the 2025/2026 school year. The published schemes will be revised accordingly.