Agreement Achieves Nearly £1 Million in Savings
An agreement resulting in savings of nearly £1 million has been reached between the Education Authority (EA) and taxi operators.
On Sunday, the EA announced it had secured a commitment amounting to a total saving of £918,000.
Rising Costs of School Transport
The annual expenditure on taxis transporting children to school has more than doubled over the past five years, increasing from over £19.4 million in 2020/2021 to nearly £40 million in 2024/2025.
The EA has attributed the rising transport costs to a shortage of local school places for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN).
"The absence of local provision for pupils has both a financial cost for EA, and, more importantly, a personal cost for pupils who have to face longer journeys than should be necessary," the EA stated.
Request for Rate Reduction
In December, the EA wrote to taxi drivers requesting a 10% reduction in their rates, warning that failure to comply could result in contract termination.
The organisation noted that only 26% of Northern Ireland mainstream schools offer specialist SEN classes.
"Until that number is significantly increased, too many children will continue to be educated outside their own communities," the EA said, "and transport will be required to ensure they don't miss out on school."
Impact on Pupils and Costs
More than 4,600 pupils with SEN rely on taxis for transportation to and from school.
Last month, the EA confirmed that the highest taxi rate charged equates to £83 per mile on a pro rata basis.
Ongoing Engagement and Future Needs
Dale Hanna, the EA's Chief Operations Officer, stated that the organisation will continue to engage with taxi operators to secure further savings and reduce costs.
"We are grateful to all those operators who are working with us constructively."
He added, "A significant proportion of the increase in taxi costs is connected to the shortfall in SEN places. Further specialist provision classes in mainstream schools are an absolute necessity."
Transport Options Provided by EA
The EA provides transport for pupils through Translink services or EA buses; however, taxis are used when these services are unavailable or unsuitable.
