Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for attending. The matter relates to school transport in the Bandon area. There is one specific route that I want to delve into. I appreciate that the Minister of State may not have the exact details on it. I ask that he reflect what I say and that the message is delivered back to the school transport section of the Department in particular, to try to get this issue solved.

This is in respect of Laragh National School, a primary school on the outskirts of Bandon. It is a mixed school - a fantastic school with a great reputation. There is an issue in that 22 children in and around the Bandon area who are attending Laragh National School have been left without bus tickets. This is frustrating. It happens every year, especially in respect of Laragh. We almost always get it solved eventually but we need to get it solved as quickly as possible. It is very frustrating. Many of the children who are impacted had tickets last year. They have been in the school a number of years and they do not have tickets this year. Their parents are essentially following other school buses to the school. They are driving behind the school bus. It is ridiculous in this day and age. Common sense must prevail.

In fairness, the Minister, Deputy Foley, communicated with Bus Éireann and asked it to put on a larger bus to cater for these students. Frustratingly, the local officers on the ground in Bandon have decided that a larger bus is not suitable for the route. What we are seeing is madness. We can take them in the larger bus, but we are saying that the route does not suit a larger bus. My question is very simple. Why can Bus Éireann not source a smaller bus? There are 22 children, so a 24-seater would work. There are contractors there in the area who will provide this bus. It is there. Bus Éireann is saying it will not sanction it, yet it would sanction a larger bus if the route was suitable. It makes no sense. My message is really clear for Bus Éireann and the school transport section. We need to solve this issue.

This is a matter of safety. The only way these children can go to school is to walk - there are no footpaths to connect the school to Bandon - or be driven. This is unsustainable and gives rise to health and safety issues because there are around 18 to 20 extra cars dropping off and picking up outside Laragh National School, where there are already issues with safety outside the school gate. I am pleading that this be looked at immediately and that we sanction a smaller bus for the route in order that these children can be brought to school safely.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I like to thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley. Before I address the specific issue raised, I will provide an outline of the extent of the school transport scheme.

The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023 - 2024 school year over 163,000 children were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. This figure includes 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. The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was over €382 million. Over 141,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024-25 school year, which is already 4% more than the total tickets issued for the 2023-24 school year.

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 remotely from their nearest school. Under the current scheme, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 km from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post-primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 km from and are attending their nearest post-primary school or education centre as determined by the Department and Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Temporary alleviation measures at post-primary school, which have been in place since 2019, are being continued for the 2024-25 school year. Under these measures, transport is provided where there is a route in operation and where capacity exists, for concessionary post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied and paid on time.

The school transport 2030 report, which was published earlier this year, marks the largest review of the school transport scheme since it was established in 1967. The Government is committed to working to achieve the report’s recommendation of expanding access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030. The recommended changes to the future operation of the schemes include expansion of the current eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure the best value for money from the Exchequer.

In relation to the topic raised by Deputy O'Sullivan, which is one, I am sure, many Deputies feel when representing their rural constituencies, Bus Éireann has confirmed that in the current school year there are 31 school transport services operating to the four post-primary schools in Bandon. There are 1,274 pupils scheduled to travel across these services currently. On the primary side, there are three school transport services to Bandonbridge National School that carry 60 pupils. There are also various primary school service to primary schools in the surrounding areas which include Ballinadee National School, Barryroe National School, Crossmahon National School, Kilbrittain National School, Laragh National School and Newcestown National School.

The Department has established an exceptional no service interim grant to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements families may have to put in place until their mainstream service begins. Bus Éireann has contacted all families who have been affected, providing regular updates and advising that the Department will be in contact directly with all affected families regarding this payment.

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State should have heard of Newcestown, the school he referred to. They are a great hurling club, and a dual club even. Getting back to Laragh, I appreciate the Minister of State would not have the full detail but the Minister, Deputy Foley, does. I know she is aware of it and is working to solve it. The very simple message I want to send to the Department, Bus Éireann and to the school transport section is to please sanction a smaller bus to cater for these 22 children in order they can get to Laragh National School safely.

Speaking of getting to Laragh National School safely, I mentioned the pick-up and drop-off. I do not expect the Minister of State to be across this in any detail but I ask that this message be relayed. There were issues with safely picking up and dropping off kids outside of Laragh National School. In fairness, the school board and school principal are proactive. They worked with Cork County Council and they embarked on a community involvement scheme. They spent €100,000 upgrading the area outside the school with a brand new layout to make things safer. Some €90,000 was provided from Cork County Council and €10,000 was provided from the school itself, from the parents and the board. There is one final missing piece of the jigsaw that they need to solve in respect of the entrance gate going into the school. They have applied for emergency works from the Department of Education but they have been turned down. It would be money very well spent. I ask that be reviewed and that the Department look favourably on their application for emergency works so that we can get these kids safely to and from school on weekdays.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I again thank Deputy O'Sullivan for this important matter and providing us with the opportunity to respond with the script that has been provided by the Minister, Deputy Foley, and her Department.

While it is extremely regrettable that a number of contractors had issues delivering a service at short notice, Bus Éireann is prioritising the establishment of a new service for the small number of families affected. As the Deputy said, it is of paramount importance that they act swiftly and urgently to deliver service. I find it difficult the fact that they refuse to deliver service on the basis that a larger vehicle cannot use the type of transport roads in the Deputy's area. I do not think that is an excuse for the parents who urgently require this. I am sure dealing with their day-to-day work commitments, caring for their families and then having to go to and from school to drop off and collect their children is a complete challenge for them.

Regarding the exceptional grant payment, that will assist some of the parents in respect of the cost of private transport arrangements. It is being put in place. It is a measure that families do not need to make an application for. The payment will be issued with tickets. Those who have been issued with tickets are eligible in that regard.

I will take back the case the Deputy raised in respect of the safety measures for drop-off and pick-up. It is important that the Department reviews the applications that have been submitted by school management and the parents’ association. I will relay that back to the Minister, Deputy Foley.