gov - Minister Foley announces the publication of ‘School Transport 2030’ – the review of the school transport scheme

Minister for Education Norma Foley today (Tuesday, 27 February) welcomed the publication of the School Transport Scheme 2030 report.

It is the largest review of the School Transport Scheme since it was established in 1967.

Around 161,000 pupils currently travel to school using the school transport scheme.

The review has recommended expanding access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030.

The review identified the potential for the scheme to reduce carbon emissions by reducing the number of students being driven to school.

The review also highlights how the School Transport Scheme plays an important role in supporting rural connectivity and tackling rural deprivation.

An extensive stakeholder engagement process was conducted as part of the review, including consultation with parents, students, providers and other key stakeholders.

Minister for Education Norma Foley said:

“The School Transport 2030 review is a highly significant document which shows the clear social, economic and climate action benefits of the scheme. I am committed to working with my government colleagues so that we can get an additional 100,000 more students on school buses by 2030.”

The review recommends eliminating the requirement for students to attend their ‘nearest school’ to give students and parents greater choice and flexibility. However, this is only where there are existing bus routes to use or where there is sufficient parental demand for a new route (10 pupils or more).

It also recommends reducing the distances required for students to qualify for it.

The review recommends a series of changes which will take effect this September:

beginning new pilot projects in September involving post-primary pupils travelling to school on public bus routes and reduced distance criteria
there will be a new way of calculating the distance requirement for the school transport scheme with more modern mapping technology being introduced in time for the start of the 2025/2026 school year
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
there are around 4,000 school bus escorts who travel with children with special education needs on mini-buses or taxis. Their terms and conditions and pay rates will be reviewed by the end of this year. The review has recommended phasing in the rule changes on distance and nearest school from the school year starting in September 2025 so that there is time to assess the results of the pilot projects, and to secure the additional school buses and drivers that will be required

The review found that expanding the school transport scheme to carry an additional 100,000 pupils will increase the cost from €444 million now to €672 million in 2030. But it also found that if no changes are made (the “do nothing” scenario), then the scheme will actually cost €678 million to carry the existing number of pupils.

Minister Foley also confirmed that the charges for the school transport scheme will remain at the same reduced rates for the upcoming 2024/2025 school year:

“The School Transport Scheme fee for a primary school child will be kept at €50 and €75 for a post- primary school child is. 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.”

The review of the school transport scheme began in 2021 and was carried out in three phases. All three reports are published today, as well as a summary report and an explainer.

Minister Foley announces the publication of ‘School Transport 2030’ – the review of the school transport scheme

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