Parents will be offered a full refund for existing school transport services under the government’s main proposal for free, supervised transport across all schools.
A White Paper published on Monday by the Education Ministry for public consultation indicates that this system will cost the state €24 million and increase school transport use by around 60 per cent.
The service, proposed in the last Budget, will be introduced in phases from the start of the next scholastic year. It will be available to all students from kindergarten up to secondary school, whether in state, independent or church schools.
Supervision will be provided on a voluntary basis by teachers, who will be given an additional allowance related to their pay grade.
The service, proposed in the last Budget, will be introduced in phases from the start of the next scholastic year
The opening and closing times of some state schools may also be changed to ease the transition.
While the government’s preferred option is to retain the current transport system across all schools and refund parents, the White Paper also puts forward two alternative options.
In one, all students would be picked up and dropped off at central points in their locality, as is currently the case with state schools, instead of the door-to-door system used by independent and church school transport.
The other option would overhaul the system to be destination-specific, with students from different schools in the same area grouped together for transport.
Both of these options would be significantly cheaper for the state - €14 million or €20 million instead of €24 million - and reduce the number of extra vehicles needed.
However, surveys and consultations with stakeholders cited in the White Paper suggest they may be put some parents off making the switch.
According to a survey of parents, carried out by audit firm Grant Thornton, around half currently drive their children to school, while around 45 per cent use school transport. The remaining few walk, use public transport, or carpool.
Of those who drive, some 80 per cent said they would switch to the new service.
There is, however, concern among some stakeholders over whether there is sufficient capacity to cater for the expected increase in demand, with the main issue the number of drivers available.
How the service will be implemented:
• No changes will be made to the way services are paid for. The government will pay the transport operator directly for state schools, while parents will pay in the case of independent and church schools.
• Tax credit system will be removed and the government will offer full refunds to parents who make use of organised transport with payment.
• Refunds will be based on an opt-in system. Students will need to be registered, and those who register and fail to use the system will be penalised.
• Supervision will be offered by educators against payment, following a call for those interested.
• Government will set conditions and commercial rates for transport operators. All school operators will be considered regardless of fleet size.
• Opening and closing times of some state schools may be changed.
