The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 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.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
There has been an overall increase in both applications and tickets issued for the 2023/2024 school year in comparison to the 2022/2023 school year.
While some of information is not available in the manner requested by the Deputy, a spreadsheet has been provided by Bus Éireann in the table attached. Please note that the information provided was accurate at the time of issue. The 2023/2024 data is subject to variation as Bus Éireann issue more tickets issue over the coming weeks.
In relation to the Deputy's query regarding pupils being assigned a free school transport place for the 2022/23 school year, all school transport fees were waived for the 2022/2023 school year as part of a wider cost of living package. In relation to the query of applications for the 2023/24 school year without having to reapply, I can advise that for eligible pupils availing of transport under the mainstream school transport primary and post primary scheme; eligible applications automatically roll over to the following school year on the Bus Éireann school transport portal. However families are requested to pay the required fee or enter medical card details by the closing date in order for tickets to issue.
In relation to pupils travelling on the school transport scheme for children with special educational needs and pupils from Ukraine/children residing in IPAS accommodation, I can advise that applications automatically roll over to the following school year on the Bus Éireann school transport portal and as transport is free for these pupil, tickets issue automatically.
There is no separate application process for concessionary seats, children who are not eligible for school transport, but who complete the application and payment process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
In addition, temporary alleviation measures continue for the 2023/24 school year, pending completion of the school transport scheme review. This means that transport is provided where such services are in operation, and where there is capacity to do so, for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who apply and pay on time.
[<a ref="https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/debates/questions/supportingDocumentation/2023-09-20_pq256-20-09-23_en.pdf">Stats</a>]
