School transport capacity
Deputy O’Rourke raised the 50% loading limit on secondary school transport and asked if full capacity would return after mid-term. The Taoiseach said the Minister for Education would consult partners before setting out the operational changes.
School transport for secondary students is operating at a loading limit of 50%. Thousands of children were excluded from the scheme due to the infamous concessionary ticket classification. We were promised that this would be kept under review. Parents and Bus Éireann were looking towards 22 October for the possible reintroduction of 100% refunds, which would ordinarily have been issued, but they have been held back. Will the school transport system return to 100% after the mid-term break or, if not, are there plans to increase capacity?
Comment on this
The decisions today facilitate a change in direction. The Minister for Education will want to consult with the education partners on the operationalisation of that, and what is in the best interests of the young people involved. Given the high vaccination rates for the over-12s, the Minister will take all of that into consideration and she will inform the education partners shortly in that regard.