John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

335. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on school transport for routes which are still not operational since the start of the new school term (details supplied); the measures her Department is taking to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42601/24]

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.

The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.

Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.

Bus Éireann has reported that unfortunately, for a small number of families who were issued a ticket for the 2024/2025 school year, difficulties have arisen in some localities where services could not commence as expected.

These difficulties have arisen in some cases due to lack of driver or contractor availability, or where zero bids were received for a service, despite repeated efforts to procure one.

While the situation is dynamic with solutions being found on a regular basis, currently this represents approximately 0.5% of vehicles operating mainstream school transport services nationally. Bus Éireann has contacted the affected families directly and will maintain communications with them. These routes are going through various stages of the procurement process.

An “Exceptional No Service Interim Grant” payable by the Department, which will be based on the number of days children attend school will be made available to the families. Bus Éireann have contacted these families directly. Families do not need to make an application for the exceptional payment. Those who have been issued a ticket and do not have a service in place will be contacted by School Transport Section in the Department.

Work is continuing in order to resolve this matter and Bus Éireann are committed to providing transport to these students as quickly as is possible.