Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 9 September 2024
695. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education the cost of transporting children to and from schools by way of taxi, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35788/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 scheme is operated using a mix of Bus Éireann owned vehicles and private contractor owned vehicles. In addition, a number of vehicle types are used, comprising of buses (large, medium and mini) and taxis. As part of the operation of the scheme, Bus Éireann manages the procurement tender process and contract management arrangements to include services provided by contractors under the School Transport Scheme. In the 2023/2024 school year in the region of 7,200 contractor owned vehicles operated on the scheme. This included some 2,300 taxis which are used on the scheme in the main to provide transport for children with special educational needs.
In planning a school placement for a child with special educational needs, a number of factors are considered, including the suitability of a proposed placement and the geographical distance from a child’s home. Every effort is made to minimise distance and time in getting to and from school. However, in many cases children attend school placements outside of their own locality and school transport is required in order for these children to attend school. The analysis conducted during the recently completed review of the scheme highlighted how highly valued the scheme is for parents of children with special educational needs and that without the transport that is provided many parents would experience difficulty in getting their child to school.
Bus Éireann has confirmed, as per the details in the following link, the spend, by county, for 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 for taxis operating on the School Transport Scheme.
