Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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613. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria for eligibility for the school bus transport scheme, specifying the distance requirements, prioritisation process, and any special considerations for students with additional needs and to provide details of the appeals process available for families who may not initially qualify for the service but wish to contest their eligibility status. [24298/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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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 post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann. The policy at Post-Primary level is that eligibility for school transport is to the nearest education centre/school subject to limited exceptions regarding language and ethos. An education centre is a number of schools within a town and acts a central point for students availing of school transport to attend any of the schools in the town.

The School Transport Scheme has regard to ethos and language in that exceptions to eligibility for the scheme are considered in the case of minority religions and the Irish 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 (TAMs) 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.

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 was Friday 25 April 2025. Any new applications made after the closing date are considered late applications. A late application may mean that a seat is not available.

The Bus Éireann family portal is now also accepting payments or medical card details until 6 June 2025. Payments or medical card details submitted after the deadline date will be deemed late. A late submission of payment or medical card details may mean that a seat is not available.

Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.

Following the closing date for payment or entering medical card details, the Bus Éireann family portal will close. This will give Bus Éireann time to assess all applications and plan for routes and services for the 2025/26 school year. Routes may be altered or extended depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.

A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.

Once routes have been finalised, Bus Éireann will assign tickets for each school transport service. Tickets will begin to issue in mid-July and will continue to issue throughout July and August. Families who are unsuccessful in obtaining a seat will be notified via email and a refund will issue.

The purpose of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability. Children are generally eligible for transport where they have a diagnosed disability and are attending their nearest recognised mainstream school, special class/special school or a unit that is or can be resourced to meet their special educational needs. Eligibility is determined in consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers.

Parents should contact their school principal who will assist in making an application for school transport to the SENO that is affiliated with the school the child is attending.

Further details of this scheme can be found on the Departments website

Decisions made by, or on behalf of, the Department of Education regarding the provision of school transport services and/or grant-aid under the terms of the School Transport Schemes may be appealed to the School Transport Appeals Board.

This Board is independent in the performance of its functions and a report has been provided by the School Transport Section of the Department of Education in accordance with the terms of the Board’s Operating Procedures.

Parents or guardians of children, or children who have reached the age of 18 years, may make an appeal. Appeals can be made on-line at www.schooltransportappeals.ie

When received, the Board will liaise directly with the appellant regarding the appeal date and their subsequent deliberations.