Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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371. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of proposed changes to the school bus service for a school (details supplied); if she is aware that parents have been informed by Bus Éireann that the drop-off is being changed; the rationale for this change which will mean pupils will have to walk 1.1 kilometres to access transport; if a safety assessment has been completed in relation to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36976/25]

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 is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes on behalf of the Department. Safety of children travelling on the school transport services is of paramount importance to the Department and to Bus Éireann. 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.

Routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than 3.2 kilometres to travel to a pick-up point. Children are generally expected to make their own way, or to be brought to convenient pick-up points along the main route.

Bus Eireann have advised that the previous arrangement whereby the pupils attending the first school referred to by the Deputy were picked up and dropped off in the grounds of the second school, will cease from September 2025. A new pick up point has been identified by Bus Éireann and communicated to parents.