Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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552. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the options available for a child (details supplied) to get to school where there is no Bus Éireann school service available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17491/25]

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.

Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Eligible children who complete the application process and pay or enter their medical card details on time will get a seat on a school bus service, if a service is available.

Children who are not eligible for school transport but complete the application and pay or enter their medical card details on time will be considered for any spare seats available after eligible children have been accommodated. These spare seats are called concessionary seats.

There may be more demand than availability for concessionary seats. In such cases, Bus Éireann will use a selection process to allocate tickets for the spare seats.

Temporary alleviation measures will continue for the 2025/26 school year at post-primary level. This means that, if there are available services and enough capacity, transport will be provided for concessionary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school but are attending their second nearest school or post-primary centre. This is only if they apply on time and pay or enter medical card details on time.

Bus Éireann have advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy resides 3.0km from home to school, their nearest school and school of attendance. This pupil is not eligible for transport as they do not meet the distance criteria under the post primary school transport scheme.

An application was received on the 23 February 2024 and no payment was received for this pupil for the 2024/25 school year. This pupil was unsuccessful in obtaining a concessionary seat for the 2024/25 school year and the existing service is currently operating to capacity.

The Bus Éireann family portal is now open for new applications for school transport services for the 2025/26 school year. The closing date for new applications is Friday 25 April 2025.