A Tynwald committee has called for free school bus travel to be reinstated.
The current system, charging students 50p per journey to and from school, raises less than £300,000 annually.
The Select Committee on Poverty’s latest report recommends the return of universal free travel for schoolchildren. If that proves unfeasible, it urges reforms to reduce the burden on low-income families.
“The cost and administration of school bus travel is an additional practical issue affecting families on lower incomes,” the report states.
The current system requires families to demonstrate eligibility and obtain physical travel cards. When cards are lost, families face unplanned costs for replacement fares.
Witnesses told the committee that travel to Douglas for replacement cards compounds the burden.
Income Target
The Department of Infrastructure confirmed the income target for school travel for 2025/26 is £298,000. However, the department said it is “not possible to isolate the specific system costs associated with the provision of free bus cards” due to the interdepartmental nature of expenditure.
The report warns that if a child cannot travel due to a missing pass “there is a risk of lateness or absence.”
The committee has given government 12 months to report back on implementing reforms, including potentially scrapping charges entirely.