School transport review
Deputy Conway-Walsh asked when the school transport review would be published and argued costs were too high for families in Louisburgh. The Minister said eligible families would see reduced charges and promised to seek an estimated publication date for the review.
When will the school transport review be published? One of the reasons I ask is that there are 250 students, rising to 300 next September, attending Sancta Maria College in Louisburgh. As it stands, it costs €850 for one child, €1,452 for two children and €1,800 for three children to get to school. Parents want to send their children to the nearest co-educational school, which is that school. We need flexibility around school transport. We need the recommendations made in the review to be implemented this year. The costs are frightening for those trying to access education.
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy. We have made a lot of progress for those who are eligible under the scheme. The Deputy is raising the example of people who are not eligible, but in the forthcoming year those who are eligible have reduced charges of between €50 and €75 per student with a cap per family of €125. The Deputy raised a particular issue and specific location. I take it the students are not currently eligible for the scheme and, therefore, are paying fares to private bus operators. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy with an estimated date for the publication of the review.