School Transport Scheme 'fundamentally flawed' - Clarke

The School Transport Scheme is “fundamentally flawed” and the government needs to find a solution that works for everybody, according to Deputy Sorca Clarke, the Sinn Féin spokesperson on Education.

Speaking in the Dail, Deputy Clarke said that while the additional €50m provided for the €338m scheme in this year's budget is to be welcomed, the government has to address the “flaws” in the scheme.

“We could almost set our watches at this point for when the phones will start ringing and the emails will start coming in with school transport queries. This year was no different.

“In many ways, it is becoming Groundhog Day. Year in and year out, there are issues with the school transport scheme.

“While the €50 million is welcome, as would be any investment in school transport, we need to tackle the fundamental flaws in the scheme. It is not only deputies on this side of the House who are raising this issue. The Minister's party colleagues are raising cases in their constituencies involving pupils who had concessionary tickets for years and are suddenly unable to get a seat on the school bus. This does not only apply to those with concessionary tickets.

“...It is an absolute shambles and it is causing profound pressure on families. Everybody wants this scheme to work, none more so than the parents who are reliant on it. For that to happen, the review that has been ongoing for two and a half years needs to be published and actioned.”

Primary level pupils are eligible for a bus seat under the scheme if they live not less than 3.2km from the nearest primary school and at postprimary level students have to live more than 4.8km from their nearest school.

Students who do not meet the criteria, concessionary applicants, may be allocated a seat in a lottery based on availability.

Responding to Deputy Clarke, Minister for Education Norma Foley said that every student that meets the criteria has a seat.

Deputy Clarke said that this “was not her experience”.

"I have a case where one brother got a ticket and the other did not. Their mother told me she would be driving behind the school bus. That is not an unusual or unique situation.

"When parents contact Bus Éireann, they are met by a disregard almost for the query they have and the pressure this scheme puts them under. While I acknowledge the funding that has been provided for the scheme, the issue is with the scheme itself. Instead of repeating the problem, the Government needs to find a solution that works for everybody.

"Children want to use this service and parents want their children on it. Traffic congestion in our towns and villages could be addressed with a proper service. Emissions would improve with a fit-for-purpose service and safety around our schools would rapidly increase with fewer cars on the road. Clearly, it is a win-win for everybody. However, there are fundamental flaws with the scheme and they need to be addressed. Without the review being published and actioned, we will have the same conversation here again next year and other parents will be in the same position as parents are in this year and were in last year and the year before that.”