Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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448. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to assure parents of a national school (details supplied) that they will have an operating school bus for the rest of the school term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25454/25]

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 and Youth. Bus Éireann has advised that the route referred to by the Deputy is not operating at present due to driver illness. Bus Éireann also advise that they issued correspondence to affected families regarding this service disruption on 02/05/2025 and 09/05/2025.

Bus Éireann has further advised that they are working intensively to ensure that transport arrangements are put in place as soon as possible. Bus Éireann also advise that they have contacted a number of contractors in the area; however, no suitable cover has been found to date, and they are continuing their efforts to restore this service as soon as possible.

For families who have been issued with a tickets on board one of these services affected, the Department is sanctioning an interim arrangement to assist with the cost of alternative arrangements until your service is in place.

The Exceptional No Service Interim Grant will be made available to families retrospectively. This payment will be paid as an exceptional measure and will be calculated from the date the service ceased until the commencement of the service.

This grant is linked to ticket holders for the number of days that children attend school during this period referred. The School Transport Section of my Department will liaise with families affected on the service referred to by the Deputy in the coming days with regard to the details of this grant.