Catherine Callaghan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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118. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the Bus Éireann school bus route supplying a school (details supplied) which has been in place for a long period of time, has recently been changed without any notice to parents along this route; if the service will be reinstated as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17967/25]

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 has advised that contractors for the routes in question were operating incorrect drop off locations in the afternoon only which resulted in pupils being dropped directly to their homes. This had a knock on effect as both routes are part of a double trip and were arriving late to the post primary schools in the afternoon.

Once this matter was identified, Bus Éireann instructed the contractors in question to operate the correct routes in the afternoon which has now resulted in some families no longer receiving a drop off to their home address and instead are dropped off at their designated drop off point.

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.

Routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than 3.2 kilometres to travel to a pick-up point. Children are generally expected to make their own way, or to be brought to convenient pick-up points along the main route.