COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, November 12, 2007

QUESTION NO.13

QUESTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

To ask the Manager if he will provide an updated report on the proposed pilot school bus project in the County?

REPLY:

The County Development Plan 2004-2010 sets the framework for physical and infrastructural development, and seeks to develop and improve, in a sustainable manner, the social, economic, cultural and environmental assets of our county. The April 2005 DTO pilot study report, “Safer routes to School, The Next Steps”, addressed the growing trend in the use of the car for school journeys, particularly in urban areas. Within this context, a School Transport System is seen as one possible way of significantly reducing the number of car journeys to and from primary schools within the South Dublin area.

In light of this, South Dublin County Council appointed a consultant to undertake a Feasibility Study for a School Transport System in order to determine the type of scheme which could be introduced, likely student uptake,and the method of implementation.

The study has looked at various methods of implementation, and has recommended providing bus services to nine schools in the locality. The proposed service will be provided by tendering out to a private operator, and, assuming parental contributions of €2/day/child, will require an annual subsidy of €178,000. Depending on take-up, it has been calculated that it could remove up to 900 car journeys /day in the locality, which, as you can appreciate, would be of immense benefit, from both a commuter and an environmental perspective.

In order to initiate the pilot service, we would need to retain the consultant, who carried out the initial feasibility study to obtain solid estimates from operators, determine interest from parents, finalise routes etc. The estimated cost of retaining the consultant to start up the scheme is €12,100 including VAT.

A letter has issued to the Department of Tranport seeking funding for this project.