Sherlock gives cautious welcome to additional funds for school transport operators
A cautious welcome has been given by Cork East TD, Sean Sherlock to the news that the Department of Education has provided additional monies to operators of school transport due to the increasing costs of fuel.
“I raised this matter back in April with the Minister and I am glad the Minister has now taken some action on this to relieve the burden on school transport operators,” Deputy Sherlock said. “It would have been preferable to see quicker action and I will continue to represent the concerns of those feeling the continued rise in the cost of fuel and the cost of living.
Having asked the Minister for Education last month if she would address the issue of rising fuel costs for the providers of school transport, Deputy Sherlock received news that a fuel contribution to contractors, costing €5.3m for Q1 and Q2 this year, is forthcoming.
‘Department of Education confirms payment of a fuel contribution to contractors operating school transport scheme services under contract to Bus Éireann, at total cost of €5.3m for Q1 and Q2 of 2022,’ a statement from the
Department of Education stated.
‘School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021. In the region of 5,800 vehicles are operated by private contractors under contract to Bus Éireann for the provision of school transport scheme services.
‘With regard to the increasing price of fuel in recent months, the Department of Education has been liaising with other relevant departments and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on this matter and is pleased to confirm that a contribution at a total cost of €5.3 million will be provided to address the impact of the increased cost of fuel for Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 of 2022 for contractors operating on the Department’s school transport scheme’.
KEPT UNDER REVIEW
The Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD said: “I am aware that a number of contractors have highlighted concerns about the ability to sustain school transport services given the recent increases in the cost of fuel. I welcome this payment of €5.3 million which will go some way to address the impact of the increased cost of fuel for Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 of 2022.”
The contribution is a temporary measure and the position with regard to fuel costs will continue to be kept under review.