Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

396. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the decision to stop a school bus service (details supplied) will be reconsidered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25080/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.

The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.

Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms 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.

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.

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.

Bus Éireann have advised that pupil referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for transport under the terms of the scheme as he is attending his second nearest primary school.

Bus Éireann have further confirmed that the same school transport service will be available for the 2025/26 school year and this family will now be able to log into their account on the Bus Éireann family portal and make a payment. The closing date for payments for the 2025/26 school year is 06 June 2025.