Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, and thank him for taking the time to address this important issue. I am advocating for the urgent implementation of a dedicated Bus Éireann secondary school transport route to Tralee in County Kerry, specifically servicing the communities of Lixnaw and Abbeydorney, which are located in north Kerry, where I currently reside. In these communities, 19 families and 29 students face significant challenges due to the absence of a structured, reliable transport service. At present, parents are forced to pay out of pocket for private transport arrangements, placing unnecessary financial strain on households. Beyond the cost, families must drive up to 14 km a day just to reach scattered pick-up points, which is an unfair and unsustainable burden on rural families. The strain is not just financial. It is physical and emotional. Parents are forced to juggle work, childcare and long daily commutes, all because a basic public service is lacking. The current system does not reflect the real educational needs or realities of these families.

Of the 29 affected students we know of, 11 attend Mercy Mounthawk in Tralee, 11 attend Tralee CBS, and seven attend Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí, the closest Irish language secondary school available to these students. This is a crucial point. Students attending Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí should, under current entitlements, be supported by a designated school transport route. There should be a clear responsibility for Bus Éireann and the Department to assist students in attending Irish medium education, not only to nurture our language and culture but also to ensure equitable access to such opportunities.

Providing a dedicated school bus route along the R557 would not just alleviate pressures on these families but would also open the door for more students to attend an Irish language school and experience the broader curriculum options offered in Tralee's secondary schools. Education through our native language, combined with expanded subject choices, should not be a privilege reserved for those who can afford private transport. Meanwhile, a Local Link service, the 272 from Tralee to Ballybunion, runs daily with fewer passengers than the numbers we are talking about here because extra capacity was put in place because of population rises in these areas. If that is viable, surely a dedicated school transport service with a clear, growing demand deserves equal consideration.

The time has come to move beyond outdated catchment policies and towards a demand-led approach that reflects how families live and learn today. If we fail to act now, we risk further isolating rural students and deepening inequality in access to education. I urge the Government to work closely with Bus Éireann and local stakeholders to ensure this service is in place by the start of the next school year. Families cannot afford another year of logistical challenges and financial hardship just to access basic education. Education should never be compromised by inadequate transport. The Government must ensure rural students have the same access and opportunities as their urban peers. I welcome any updates the Minister of State may have on discussions with Bus Éireann regarding this proposal and look forward to seeing meaningful progress made without delay.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Kennelly for the opportunity to update him on the school transport service in these areas. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth with responsibility for special education and inclusion, Deputy Michael Moynihan. The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. As Senator Kennelly may be aware that, under the terms of the school transport scheme, children are eligible for transport at primary level when they reside not less than 3.2 km from and are attending their nearest national school. At post-primary level, the pupil must reside not less than 4.8 km from and be attending their nearest post-primary education centre, as determined by the Department or Bus Éireann, with regard to ethos and language.

Bus Éireann has advised that pupils residing in the Lixnaw area are generally not eligible for school transport to the post-primary centres in Tralee as they are nearer to two different post-primary centres depending on their address. Bus Éireann has advised that there is a service that pupils of this area can avail of, with pick-up points of approximately 9.2 km or 7.2 km away. The Senator already alluded to that.Bus Éireann has advised that pupils residing in the Abbeydorney area are generally eligible for school transport to the post-primary centre in Tralee, as it is their closest post-primary centre. Bus Éireann has also advised that there is a mainstream service that operates from this area to that post-primary centre.

The closing date for new applications for school transport services for the 2025-2026 school year was Friday, 25 April 2025. Any new applications made after the closing date are considered late applications and, thus, may mean that a seat is not available.

The Bus Éireann family portal is accepting payments or medical card details until 6 June. Payments or medical card details submitted after the deadline date will be deemed late. A late submission of payment or medical card details may mean that a seat is not available. Following the closing date for payment or entering medical card details, the Bus Éireann family portal will close. This will give Bus Éireann time to assess all applications and plan for routes and services for the 2025-26 school year. Routes may be altered or extended depending on the number and locations of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.

Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply. As I said in my first contribution, the time has come to move beyond outdated catchment policies and towards a demand-led approach that reflects how families live and learn today. According to the Minister of State, Bus Éireann has advised that there is a service that pupils of this area can avail of, with pick-up points of approximately 9.2 km or 7.2 km away. That is unacceptable in this day and age. There is a need for a demand-led approach on this route. I urge the Departments of transport and education to review this application immediately and prioritise the route for the students so as to remove this stress for the 2025-26 academic year. I would like a written response to the effect that it can be reviewed soon, as I believe the closing date is next week.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I again thank Senator Kennelly for raising this important matter. I will bring the specific concerns he raised in respect of the schoolchildren in Lixnaw and Abbeydorney. The Senator is familiar with the area and genuinely concerned about the matter.

The Bus Éireann family portal is accepting payments or medical card details until 6 June. It is important that parents ensure they submit their payments or medical card details. After this deadline of 6 June, applications will be deemed late and a late submission of payment or medical card details may mean that a seat is not available. This is something people should be conscious of. Following the closing date for payment or entering medical card details, Bus Éireann will close the portal, giving Bus Éireann time to assess all applications and plan for routes for the service for the 2025-26 year.

I will bring the set of circumstances the Senator raised to the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and the Department of education. I have no doubt that the Senator will follow up with them and Bus Éireann as well.