Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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231. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will contact Bus Éireann to deliver a options for students of a school (details supplied) in their new temporary location; if she will facilitate school transport options for students living in both the City West and Rathcoole who are attending the school given the nature of the temporary location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18233/25]

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 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 to 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 current terms of the School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport at post-primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 km from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time (apply on time and pay on time) are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where there is capacity to do so. Children who are not eligible but who apply for school transport are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

The school referred to by the Deputy is currently located in interim accommodation on a school campus site in Citywest, Dublin. Bus transport has been provided for the school to this location. This is a private arrangement and is not within the remit of my Department's School Transport Scheme.

It is intended that the school will move to modular accommodation on an interim site in Newcastle for September 2025. My Department has advised the school and patron body that the private bus transport arrangement will not be provided to the Newcastle site.

My Department will continue to liaise with the school and patron body in relation to their interim accommodation requirements pending delivery of the school’s permanent school building project in Rathcoole.