Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

90. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an issue can be addressed in relation to school transport (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36292/25]

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

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.

The scheme is made up of three separate schemes, the school transport scheme for primary, post primary and for children with special educational needs. Transport is also provided for children who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine and those residing in IPAS/EROC centres. Under the 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 at post-primary level have been continued for the 2025/2026 school year which means that transport arrangements will continue to be provided for a number of post-primary students who are attending their second nearest school, who have applied and paid on time and who live more than 4.8km from their nearest school.

Bus Éireann has confirmed that this pupil is a TAM Concessionary pupil as they are attending their second nearest Post Primary Centre and are over the distance criteria to their nearest Post Primary Centre.

There is a mainstream school transport service available to this pupil and an application and payment has been received on time for the 2025/26 school year.

Bus Éireann are reviewing services at present and tickets will be issued in the normal manner prior to the commencement of the 2025/26 school year based on eligibility criteria.