2026-04-23

16. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress made to date in relation to the introduction of e-ticketing as part of the school transport scheme; if there are plans to expand e-ticketing to other schools for the 2026-27 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28771/26]

The school transport 2030 report was published in early 2024 following a comprehensive analysis and review of the scheme as it currently operates. The recommended changes to the future operation of the scheme include expansion of the eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure we have better value for money for the Exchequer. As part of the review, it was also recommended that the Department and Bus Éireann continue to explore and implement improved technology. The Department is currently progressing a number of technological improvements to the scheme, including the planned introduction of e-ticketing. Not only will e-tickets replace the current printed paper tickets but they should also provide accurate information on ticket utilisation, which is currently not readily available. Better data will inform future route planning and maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of the system. A technology working group has been established between the Department and Bus Éireann. Work is progressing on several projects, including e-ticketing, and the Department continues to engage with both the Department of Transport and the National Transport Authority on these matters. A phased implementation of the review's recommendations began at the start of the 2024-25 school year alongside the Department of Transport and Bus Éireann. A total of 14 pilot projects took place and a further 11 pilot projects were approved for this school year. All pilots are being monitored, and will be evaluated in the future to better inform us. The e-ticketing pilot project is a hugely important piece of data collection for us and will make the best possible information available to us when we are planning the future direction of school transport. This morning a number of Deputies were looking for additional services in their communities. It is also important that we have the data on the utilisation of the current system, which will make sure we are putting the State resources to the best possible use.

I welcome the Minister of State's reply. The e-ticketing pilot data is extremely important in respect of the use of school transport. Every week we all get complaints about seats being vacant on school buses, while the children who would use them do not have access to the buses. E-ticketing is extremely important in making sure that there is full utilisation and that the people who have been unfortunate in not being able to get on the school transport system can use those vacant seats. What is occurring in parts of the country is that people agree to take the transport offered but then do not use it for various reasons, or they may use it some days of the week but not every day. It is important that e-ticketing would give us the correct data on the usage of school transport.

E-ticketing and the collection of data on school transport are hugely important. We have seen an increase in the State funding being provided, from €200 million to €527 million currently. Demand is growing in terms of the number of people who are looking to access the school transport system. Since 2018, the number of students travelling on it has grown by 50%. Deputy Burke is aware, from people telling him about challenges in regard to buses, that some of the buses do not have full occupancy. We are constantly being asked if we have data on this. E-ticketing will help us to know whether an allocated seat is being used three days a week or five days a week, mornings and afternoons, and what the data is in that regard, to ensure that the scarce resources we have are being best applied.

We have gone well over time. Deputy Burke can have 30 seconds.

Will the Minister of State clarify if there is a target date for e-ticketing to be available across the board in all school transport systems?

The work is ongoing with the National Transport Authority, the Department of Transport and Bus Éireann. We have to implement the reform and get the data. There is a huge body of work to be done but we intend to do it as soon as possible.