Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2023
98. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 89 of 16 May 2023, if she will provide an update on the number of applications made for the school transport scheme within County Cork; if there is an increase in applications in the Cork east constituency; if her Department has plans for new school transport routes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31659/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/23 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
There has been an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
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 remote from their nearest school.
Bus Éireann have advised that it is not possible to break down the information sought by the Deputy in to separate constituencies within the county.
In the 2022/2023 school year there was almost a 20% increase in applications received for mainstream transport compared to the 2021/2022 school year. Bus Éireann is in the process of assessing new and existing applications for the upcoming school year and a final figure will be available when this process is complete. However, they have indicated that they have received approximately 6,000 new applications which include on time and late applications for the 2023/2024 school year. Some of these applications may be duplicate applications, applications made in error, or applications where there is no existing service in place.
In respect of applications received from children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) there was an increase of 5% in new applications received in the 2022/2023 school year. Applications for Special Educational Needs transport are received on a year round basis.
For the 2022/23 school year there were 605 new Ukrainian applications received.
New school transport routes are established on a demand-led basis, subject to eligibility requirements. 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.
The closing date for new applications for the 2023/2024 school year was Friday 28th April 2023. The closing date for payment/entering medical details for tickets for the 2023/2024 school year was Friday 9th June 2023. Bus Éireann issued families with acknowledgements and payment reminders once an application was completed. An extensive media campaign which included advertisements in local and national media was run by my Department in tandem with Bus Éireann’s reminders to families and social media messaging to encourage families apply and pay or enter medical card details on time.
The Bus Éireann family portal is now closed for all applications and payments for a period of 3 weeks.
This closure is necessary so that Bus Éireann can process applications, arrange transport and to assess all applications and determine whether they are eligible or concessionary and to include Temporary Alleviation Measures (TAMS) as soon as possible for the 2023/24 school year. Bus Éireann plans to issue all eligible tickets from July.
Bus Éireann are now reviewing all school transport services over the summer months. 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.
Pending completion of the School Transport review, there will be no removal or downsizing of buses/routes for the 2023/2024 school year.
