Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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518. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her assessment that school transportation be legally required to ensure appropriate supervision in an effort to prevent bullying. [17289/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, over 172,500 children, are transported daily in approximately 7,900 vehicles across 10,300 routes daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. These daily trips cover over 100 million kilometres. This figure includes over 143,800 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 21,700 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine.

The scheme is made up of three separate schemes, the school transport scheme for primary, post primary and for children with special educational needs. Transport is also provided for children who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine and those residing in IPAS/EROC centres.

The total expenditure on the scheme in 2024 was €512m.

Bus Éireann operate the school transport schemes on behalf of the Department of Education. All school transport drivers are vetted by Bus Éireann through the Garda Vetting Bureau. All drivers employed under the remit of the School Transport Schemes have to operate under strict Child Protection Guidelines set out by Bus Éireann which has been endorsed by Child Safeguarding Statement Compliance Unit (CSSCU) Tusla.

Bus Éireann staff, contractors and their employees have a duty and responsibility to safeguard children and support their general welfare, development and safety, promoting the protection of children in line with our Child Safeguarding Policy. As a matter of policy, they must be alert to the possibility of child abuse/harm and of their obligation to convey any concerns to the mandated Designated Liaison Person (DLP), who will treat such concerns in an appropriate manner in accordance with legislative requirements.

There is a facility within the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs for the appointment of a school bus escort where a child’s care and safety needs, due to behavioural or medical issues, are such that the child requires the support of an escort while they are on board their school transport service. The Department of Education issue grant funding to schools for the employment of school bus escorts. School bus escorts are employed by each school through School Management Authorities.