Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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462. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a secondary school transport route will be implemented on R557 Lixnaw via Abbeydorney to service the secondary schools in Tralee, County Kerry, as the demand is there for 19 families-29 Students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25597/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Only general information can be provided to the Deputy’s query based on the level of detail provided:

Pupils residing in the first area mentioned are generally not eligible for transport to the post-primary centre in question as they are nearer to two different post-primary centres depending on their address.

There is a service that pupils of this area can avail of, with pick up points of approximately 9.2km or 7.2km away.

Pupils residing in the second area mentioned are generally eligible for transport to the post-primary centre in question and there is a mainstream service that operates from this area to the post-primary centre.

For additional context, 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 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.

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.

The Bus Éireann family portal is 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.

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.

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.