Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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558. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if assistance will be provided to a child (details supplied) who is trying to avail of school transport due to medical needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29589/25]

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 this pupil resides 4.5km from home to their nearest school and school of attendance. This pupil is not eligible for transport as they do not meet the distance criteria under the post-primary school transport scheme.

Bus Éireann also advised that the pupil currently resides 3.9km from home to their closest pick-up point. This service does not stop any closer to the pupils’ home and there is no closer pick-up point available. The pupil has never been issued with a school transport ticket.

An application and payment have been received on time for the 2025/26 school year.

Bus Éireann will review services over the coming summer months and tickets will be issued in the normal manner based on eligibility criteria, as detailed below.

Under the current terms of the scheme, pupils at post primary level, who live no less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre are deemed eligible. Any pupils/students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.

Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only and will be facilitated where spare seats are available after eligible children have been accommodated.

Concessionary transport is subject to a number of terms and conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service and payment of the annual charge. The availability of concessionary transport may vary from year to year, is not available on public scheduled services and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s education cycle. Where the number of applications for transport on a concessionary basis exceeds the number of seats available, Bus Éireann will determine the allocation of the tickets using an agreed selection process

Special transport arrangements on medical grounds may be considered by the Department where an eligible pupil has a medical condition and the condition is such that it would prevent the child from making his/her own way to the school or the pick-up point, as appropriate.

Where such applications are made, the Department requests that the pupil's GP complete an Application for School Transport on Medical Grounds, which outlines the nature and severity of the medical condition. The form is then forwarded to the Medical Advisor, who, on the basis of the medical evidence submitted, determines whether the above conditions apply. This form is available on the Department’s website at gov.ie/schooltransport

The request for a service may be submitted initially by way of direct communication from a family or by way of a Special Educational Needs School Transport Application.