Finnish municipalities spent nearly €249 million on school transport last year

Finnish municipalities spent almost €249 million on pre-primary and basic education school transport in 2023, according to a survey by the Association of Finnish Municipalities.

The figure comes from responses by 221 municipalities, many of which reported that rising general cost levels had also increased transport expenses. The number of pupils requiring transport has decreased by around 10,000 over the past decade, now totalling approximately 105,000.

Under Finnish law, municipalities must provide school transport if the school route exceeds five kilometres. However, most municipalities assess transport needs beyond just distance, considering factors such as road safety risks.

The survey also found that many municipalities offer transport to younger pupils even when the distance falls below the legal minimum.