Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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816. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for replacement of the nearest school rule; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45416/25]

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.

Over 148,000 tickets have issued for the 2025/26 school year to date, which is a 5% increase in the tickets issued at the same time last year.

Due to the scale of the scheme, the changes as recommended in the review will take time and careful planning to implement. The recommended action as part of the review is to implement any changes on a phased basis. It was outlined at the time of the publication of the review that, given that the proposed changes to the eligibility criteria are likely to further increase demand for the scheme, it is considered prudent to implement the proposed scheme changes on a phased basis.

This is particularly relevant considering the challenges that have been encountered in recent school years and in the current school year where there are continued issues with resource availability (drivers/contractors) across the wider transport sector.

A phased implementation of the review’s recommendations began at the start of the 2024/2025 school year in conjunction with the Department of Transport and Bus Éireann. A total of 14 pilot projects took place in the 2024/2025 school year.

It is intended to continue current pilots for the upcoming school year.? They will be monitored during the year and a full evaluation will take place at the end of the 2025/2026 school year.? This evaluation will provide valuable insights into the impact of increased demand on the scheme, the potential for integrating public transport with school transport services, and opportunities to promote more sustainable modes of transport.

The findings from these evaluations will guide the planning and implementation needed for a national rollout of a revised School Transport Scheme.

Work is now underway to identify where more pilot programmes might be conducted subject to resources. A number of approaches are being examined including the use of a Geographic Information System (GIS) to identify how many additional children would become eligible and where they are located. A digital mapping project of all existing school bus routes is being developed and there is ongoing collaboration with the Department of Transport, Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority in regard to planned expansion of public transport routes to explore where integration may be possible.

As intended, following closure of the application process for the 2025/2026 school year consideration is being given to further potential pilots. The School Transport Section of the Department is actively engaging with Bus Éireann, to assess where dedicated school transport pilots may be successfully delivered. The priority is to provide transport to pupils that are eligible under the current terms of the school transport scheme.

Provision of additional services as pilot projects will be subject to the availability of vehicles and drivers in each area.

Implementation of the recommendations will continue to be planned subject to resources being available to meet the increased demand.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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817. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the financial and other supports available for transport to and from school for students who due to student place shortages could not register for their nearest school and consequently attend another school, in circumstances where there is no space available on their bus route for concessionary tickets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45417/25]

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.

Under the current terms of the mainstream school transport scheme, children are eligible for transport 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.

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 and Youth.

• 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 was full.