Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

224. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to changing a bus route servicing an area to a school (details supplied) to ensure that students can be picked up and dropped off at a location that is safer for them than the present designated point; if her Department will undertake to engage with the parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28329/25]

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

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.

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.

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.

Safety of children travelling on the school transport services is of paramount importance to the Department and to Bus Éireann.  Bus Éireann has advised that these pupils are currently receiving transport within guidelines to a pick up point as outlined in the post primary school transport scheme.