Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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901. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action her Department is taking to resolve ongoing unreliability issues with a school bus route (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19511/25]

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 current 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.

Bus Éireann has advised that the service in question has operated fully with the exception of two dates in the current school year. The service did not operate on one date in 12 November 2024 due to a vehicle breakdown and on 24 January 2025 due to the Red Weather warning. The Bus Éireann local office contacts families if they receive prior knowledge a service will not be operating. Bus Éireann has a dedicated customer care call centre to help families with school transport questions.

If families have any questions, they can call the centre at LoCall 0818 919 910. The phone lines are open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday. There is also a dedicated webchat facility available on Bus Éireann's website at: www.buseireann.ie/contact-us.