(UK) NI: SPED taxi cost increased from $27M to >$54M in 5 yrs; "sharp rise" in SPED numbers
- The end of childhood
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Dec 21, 2025, Ireland Live: Education Authority paying out up to £83 [$111] per mile to taxi operators
The cash-strapped Education Authority (EA) is paying out up to £83 [$111] per mile to taxi firms who provide services such as transporting children to school.
Information obtained by the Press Association has also revealed that more than £20 million [$27M] was paid out to just five taxi operators in Northern Ireland by the EA in the last financial year.
The chairman of Stormont’s education committee has described the figures as a “matter of serious concern”. . . .
Education Authority
The EA, which delivers school services in Northern Ireland, recently announced savings measures as it attempts to plug a £300 million [$402M] shortfall in its budget.
This has included renegotiating payments to taxi operators who provide services such as transporting some children to school.
The EA recently wrote to operators, asking them to reduce their rates by 10%.
The bill has doubled in recent years, attributable in part to a sharp rise in the number of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) who are taken to school by taxi.
Information provided by the EA revealed that:
– The highest 10 estimated taxi rates charged to EA range from £83.33 per passenger mile to £37.80 per passenger mile.
– The EA’s total annual bill for taxi use has more than doubled in five years – growing from £20 million [$27M] in 2020/2021 to more than £40 million [$54M] in 2024/2025. . . .
Sinn Fein education committee member Pat Sheehan said he had attended a meeting between taxi operators and the EA last week.
He said: “The difficulty is there seems to be unfairness in the system. Some of those taxi operators have been saying to me if you take 10% off, those runs will not be profitable, some of them have said they could be out of business.
“If the taxi operators pulled the plug in the morning the EA would be in trouble because kids just couldn’t get to school . . . .
An EA statement said: “The rise in taxi bills is in part a reflection of the increase in the number of pupils with special educational needs. . . . .
“At present, only 26% of mainstream schools provide specialist SEN provision. . . .
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