Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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122. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills regarding the Department's decision to not provide school transport for students of a school to their temporary location (details supplied), to outline the alternative options available to families for transport to the temporary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30985/25]

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 by the Planning and Building Unit. This is a private arrangement and is not within the remit of my Department's School Transport Scheme. The site in Citywest is outside the SPA and this is the reason transport was provided.

It is intended that the school will move to modular accommodation on an interim site in Newcastle for September 2025. My Department has advised the school and patron body that the private bus transport arrangement will not be provided to the Newcastle site. The reason for this is that the Newcastle site is within the SPA.

Bus Éireann have advised that the new location of Rathcoole ETNS has been updated on their system and they have completed the re-assessment of all new applications to this school for the 2025/26 school year.

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. 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.

The closing date for new applications for school transport services for the 2025/26 school year was Friday 25 April 2025. Any new applications made after the closing date are considered late applications and this may mean that a seat is not available.

The closing date for payment or entering medical card details was 06 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.

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.

Bus Éireann will review applications/services over the coming summer months. 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. 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.