Education bodies were informed how to conserve ₤ 30 million on school transportation 3 years ago

A REPORT spelling out how to save almost ₤ 30 million annually on home-to-school transport has now sat on the shelf for more than 3 years.A rundown paper today suggested means-testing transport was a method to raise earnings and ease big financial pressures.It recommended as much as ₤ 30m a year might be raised by shocking the expensive policy.Free travel is offered to around 90,000 students

. The average cost, omitting those in special schools, is approximately ₤ 700 a year.There were alternatives that might decrease cost, the paper said.Similar suggestions were

advanced in an independent review commissioned by former education

minister John O'Dowd. As far back as his very first day as minister in Might 2011, he told the Irish News he could not"surpass "the annual cost, which at that time had to do with ₤ 70m. Presented in the 1940s, the provision of transport was considered essential to guarantee kids who lived more than walking distance

-2 miles for primary and 3 for post-primary -could participate in school. Now, almost one third of the school population certifies for support and it represents more than ₤ 100m of public funds each year. The independent report alerted that by 2019/20, the school population was anticipated to rise, which would put additional pressures on the transportation budget plan.

"If present patterns in expense continue, the approximated cost to DE of supporting pupils'journey to school will remain in excess of ₤ 100m by 2019/20(including assistance from other federal government departments for school travel the total is anticipated to increase to approximately ₤ 133m),"it warned.More than 80 organisations with an interest in transport, consisting of trade unions, instructional assistance organisations, schools, moms and dads'representatives, rural and neighborhood groups, and transportation

companies met the panel.The call for evidence generated more than 1,000 reactions and the panel fulfilled more than 200 students from primary, post-primary and special schools.Three alternatives for modification to the entitlement requirements were evaluated in this evaluation.

Based on this analysis," it is suggested that transportation assistance be provided to the closest school just(or to the closest Irish medium school/unit or integrated school)and the expected savings of ₤ 26m per year". It was shelved, nevertheless, with the Department of Education stating in late 2015 there was not sufficient time to make changes due to assembly required nearing its end.At the time, the department stated there would be no consultation taken forward but added:"The Education Authority and other relevant bodies have actually been asked to think about a number of the operational recommendations."

Source

http://www.irishnews.com/news/2017/12/20/news/education-bodies-were-told-how-to-save-30-million-on-school-transport-three-years-ago-1214864/

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