Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 July 2024
289. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the estimated full-year cost of providing universal access to the school transport scheme and providing access to all applicants based on applications made last year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28848/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are 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 scheme is a demand led scheme and costs can vary from year to year based on the number of children for whom services are provided for in any given year and any additional costs incurred due to external factors such as for example the impact of Covid-19, the requirement to provide transport for children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine and the cost of living measures agreed by Government as they related to school transport.
The full cost of operating the scheme has increased from €200.2m in 2018 to €382.02m in 2023. The number of pupils travelling on school transport services over the period 2018/19 to 2022/23 has increased from some 117,800 pupils to over 161,600 pupils.
In general the unit cost for transporting mainstream students is approx. €1,400 per annum, while the unit cost for transporting students with special educational needs can be upwards of €10,000 per student depending on whether a School Transport Escort is required.
It is worth noting that there are other costs associated with the School Transport Scheme such as the provision of Special Transport Grants and Remote Area Grants where these grants are required.
