Dept of Transport in talks with Dept of Education over running of school bus scheme

Green Party senator and education committee member Pauline O’Reilly said rules surrounding the provision of school bus places are too rigid. File photo: Mark Stedman/RollingNews.ie

The Department of Transport has confirmed that it is “engaging” with the Department of Education on the prospect of taking control of the school transport scheme.

However, it is understood that there is pushback from Norma Foley’s department on the proposed transfer.

Calling for the scheme to be brought into Eamon Ryan's department, Green Party senator and education committee member Pauline O’Reilly said the scheme needs a major expansion and “radical overhaul” to meet the needs of communities and climate commitments.

“It’s quite clear that the Department of Education is not managing it, and hasn’t managed it. They’ve come out with announcements such as free school transport without the system in place,” she said.

She said rules surrounding the provision of school bus places are too rigid, while a move between departments would be more practical. Ms O’Reilly said there is a “clear opportunity” to take thousands of cars off the roads every morning with a major expansion.

“Every child should be able to get a bus to school and if you look at other countries, that’s the way it is. We all know what a difference it makes to traffic congestion when schools are off,” she said.

Labour Party TD and Education spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, backed the call saying a move of school transport, which has become a “serious issue”, under the remit of the Department of Transport has merit.

“When you’re dealing with the Department of Education in terms of school transport, it can be a bit confused and you don’t really get the sense that they understand it. It would fit more readily in the Department of Transport,” he said.

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A spokesperson for the Department of Transport said the department is engaging with the Department of Education on the potential for integrating the school transport system “to reduce the number of escort-to-education journeys, as per the Climate Action Plan.” 

“Officials from the Department of Transport engage with colleagues in the Department of Education on a regular basis to discuss all aspects relating to the School Transport Scheme. There are no plans to alter the current structure whereby the Department of Education has policy and funding responsibility for running the Scheme,” they said.

The Department of Education did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publishing.