To ask the Minister of Education whether the Education Sustainability Taskforce will undertake a review of home to school transport.

The Taskforce for Future Financial Stability of Education (the Taskforce) aims to achieve financial sustainability for the Education Authority (EA) and thereby the education sector as a whole, while supporting improvements to services, such as home to school transport.

I remain committed to ensuring that all pupils receive the transport assistance they need to access education. To protect this essential provision, we must ensure that the transport service is both affordable and sustainable. Transport provision is a statutory requirement rooted in Department of Education policy. The EA is currently reviewing its transport service to identify potential efficiencies, savings and alternative delivery options. The Taskforce will take a holistic overview, strengthening joint working between my Department and the EA to identify where policy or legislative change may be required to deliver improvements and support a more sustainable system.