Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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484. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which she plans to address the anomaly whereby a student does not qualify for school transport from Bus Éireann due to the fact that they must travel to a second level school further to the nearest second level school due to a lack of available school places in the nearest second level school; her views on whether this is penalising such students and families through no fault of their own due to a lack of school places; if a timeline is in place to address this issue with Bus Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28951/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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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.

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.

In cases where families have applied to attend their nearest schools with regard to ethos and language, and have been advised by the school authorities that these schools are full, the Department will consider if the pupil(s) is eligible to the next nearest school.

While the closest school(s) may be full to capacity at present, each family must supply the documents mentioned below, to School Transport Section of the Department of Education.

• an application for enrolment was made within the deadline dates specified by the school(s), and
• a letter from each of the school authorities confirming that the school(s) are full.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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485. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school transport service is unavailable for a school located in Newcastle, County Dublin (details supplied); if there are plans to instate a transport service when the premises opens; if not, the options for transport available to students living 3.2 km or more from this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28953/25]

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.

The school referred to by the Deputy is currently located in interim accommodation on a school campus site in Citywest, Dublin. Bus transport has been provided for the school to this location. This is a private arrangement and is not within the remit of my Department's School Transport Scheme.

It is intended that the school will move to modular accommodation on an interim site in Newcastle for September 2025. The Planning and Building Unit of my department has advised the school and patron body that private transport arrangements will not be provided from September 2025 to the Newcastle site which is located within the school planning area.

My Department will continue to liaise with the school and patron body in relation to their interim accommodation requirements pending delivery of the school’s permanent school building project in Rathcoole.