Kildare Senator: 100,000 more children to benefit from School Transport Scheme by 2030

A Kildare-based Senator has said that 100,000 more children will benefit from the School Transport Scheme (STS) by 2030.

Local Fianna Fáil Senator Fiona O'Loughlin has said that she welcomes plans to 'significantly overhaul' the STS.

She said that her Fianna Fáil colleague, Minister for Education Norma Foley TD, has 'published the most comprehensive review of the STS since it was established in 1967.'

Explaining the proposed changes, Senator O'Loughlin further said: "It (the review) has recommended expanding access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried to school using the school transport scheme by 2030.

"Currently, around 161,000 pupils are benefitting from the scheme.

"The review also recommends significantly broadening eligibility criteria for the scheme by eliminating the requirement for students to attend their 'nearest school' and also reducing the distance that a student must live from school from 4.8 kilometres to 2km at post-primary level and from 3.2 km to 1km at primary level."

Fianna Fáil Senator Fiona O'Loughlin. File photograph.

Welcoming the proposed changes, Senator O'Loughlin said: "I welcome the recommendations contained in this long-awaited report. 

"The School Transport 2030 review is going to allow almost 100,000 more pupils to use it by 2030, bringing the total to about 260,000 students."

She continued: "The significant broadening of the eligibility criteria will allow more families apply for the scheme... this is a vital scheme for families, particularly in rural Ireland.

"Some 77 per cent of the 6,298 parents surveyed for the review said that they rely on the STS in order to attend work.

"This shows how important this scheme is for families. We also know what a huge part it plays in supporting rural connectivity and tackling rural deprivation."

She added that she was 'heartened' that Minister Foley's announcement that the charges for the STS will remain at the same reduced rates for the upcoming 2024 / 2025 school year.

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In the context of fees, Senator O'Loughlin said: "The fee for a primary school child is €50 and for a post-primary school child is €75.

"The maximum fee for a family is €125.

"This is excellent value, considering the actual cost to provide transport is €1,100 per child on mainstream transport per school year."

Senator O'Loughlin further said: "Fianna Fáil in Government is committed to working to achieve the report’s recommendation of expanding access to the scheme.

"A series of changes recommended by the review will take effect on a phased basis from this September.

"These include new pilot projects involving post-primary pupils travelling to school on public bus routes, as well as reduced distance criteria."

"There will be an increase in the special transport grant, which goes to families who prefer to provide their own transport for their children with special educational needs or where there isn’t a service available," she concluded.