Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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27. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional routes that have been added for the school year 2024-25. [44971/24]

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 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. This figure includes 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.

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

Over 142,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 4% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.

The School Transport Scheme is an important service for families and children. The purpose of the Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remotely from their nearest school.

Under the current schemes, 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. At post primary level, young people are eligible 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, that is apply on time and pay on time, are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Temporary Alleviation Measures (TAMS) at post-primary level, which have been in place since 2019, are being continued for the 2024/25 school year. Under these measures, transport is provided where there is a route in operation and where capacity exists for concessionary post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school. They must also of course apply and pay on time.

Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only and will be facilitated where spare seats are available after eligible children have been accommodated.

Where the number of ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available, Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for the spare seats using an agreed selection process.

The School Transport 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. The recommended changes to the future operation of the schemes 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. The analysis conducted as part of this comprehensive review has illustrated the importance of school transport to families but has also shown how the scheme can support wider Government policies, including supporting climate action targets, supporting working parents and the labour market, supporting families to live and work in rural Ireland and teaching life skills for children.

A phased implementation of the review’s recommendations began at the start of this school year. It is intended, subject to resources, to commence implementing the revised eligibility criteria in the 2025/2026 school year.

In relation to the question raised by the Deputy, Bus Éireann, who operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department, annually review all school transport services based on the number of eligible applications received and paid on time. Arising from this review, routes may be altered, extended or withdrawn depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.

A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.

Bus Éireann, who is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes on behalf of the Department has advised that there are currently 991 more dedicated school transport scheme routes than in October last year. This equates to 254 more mainstream routes and 737 more Special Educational Needs routes in place than at the same time last year. In addition, there are some 550 post-primary pupils travelling on the enhanced public transport service route on the Limerick/Shannon corridor as part of the pilot scheme in that area for the 2024/2025 school year.