Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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849. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a replacement school bus transport escort has not been provided to a child (details supplied) given the lengthy period of absence of the current escort; if a new escort will be provided at the earliest opportunity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45829/25]

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.

It is recognised that School Transport Escorts play a vital role in supporting children with Special Educational Needs in their journey to and from school. For this reason, there is a facility within the Special Educational Needs Transport Scheme for the appointment of a School Transport Escort where a child’s care and safety needs while on school transport are such as to require the support of a School Transport Escort.

The Department of Education and Youth provides grant funding for the employment of the School Transport Escort and sets the rate of pay. The Board of Management/ETB are responsible for the employment of the School Transport Escort.

The Principal of the school in question has advised that they are currently advertising for a temporary School Transport Escort. The family can contact the school directly if they have any further queries in relation to the employment of the School Transport Escort.

An Interim Special Transport Grant is available to the family to bring the pupil in question to school while awaiting appointment of temporary Escort for this route.

The family have been notified directly in relation to this grant.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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850. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the body that has overall responsibility for the operation of the school transport scheme; the role of her Department and the role of Bus Éireann in the delivery of the scheme; if she will report on the adequacy of capacity and the number of eligible children who were unable to secure a seat for the current school year; and if she will review the eligibility criteria particularly for rural areas and provide an update on the appeals process for parents whose children have been refused transport. [45833/25]

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. In the 2024/25 school year, over 173,000 children were transported daily in approximately 8,200 vehicles across 10,600 routes daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. These daily trips cover over 100 million kilometres.

The School Transport 2030 report was published in early 2024 following a comprehensive analysis and review of the scheme as it currently operates. The recommended changes to the future operation of the schemes include expansion of the current eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure the best value for money to the Exchequer. It is proposed to expand access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030. A phased implementation of the review’s recommendations began at the start of the 2024/2025 school year.

A total of 14 pilot projects are underway in the 2024/25 school year. These pilots are currently being evaluated to 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.

It is intended to continue current pilots for the 2025/26 school year. A further evaluation will take place at the end of the 2025/2026 school year. 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 further pilot programmes may be conducted. 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 has been 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.

The School Transport Scheme is significant in scale and 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 in light of 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.

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

Under the terms of the current 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.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Children who are eligible for school transport and have applied and paid or entered their medical card detail on time, but for whom no service is available, may be offered the Remote Area Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements. The Remote Area Grant is also payable for eligible children who may have to travel 3.2kms or more to or from a designated pick up/set down point. Families are provided with the grant details at the end of the school year.

Bus Éireann has advised that in recent weeks they issued tickets for school transport on bus services that had been secured for the 2025/26 school year. Unfortunately, a number of difficulties have arisen in having services in place for the start of the new school year in some localities with a small number of contracted services.

Bus Éireann continues to work intensively to ensure that transport arrangements are put in place as soon as possible, and every effort is being made to ensure transport can be sourced and put in place as soon as possible.

For families who have been issued with a tickets on board one of these services affected, the Department is sanctioning an interim arrangement to assist with the cost of alternative arrangements until a service is in place.

The Exceptional No Service Interim Grant will be made available to families retrospectively. This payment will be paid as an exceptional measure and will be calculated from the date the service was due to commence up to the date that a service in provided for the child(ren). As the payment is based on the number of days a child attends school up until the time a service has commenced, it cannot be paid in advance.

This grant is linked to ticket holders for the number of days that a child attended school from 25th August 2025 until a school transport service commences.

Decisions made by, or on behalf of, the Department of Education rand Youth regarding the provision of school transport services and/or grant-aid under the terms of the School Transport Schemes may be appealed to the School Transport Appeals Board.

This Board is independent in the performance of it’s functions and a report has been provided by the School Transport Section of the Department of Education in accordance with the terms of the Board’s Operating Procedures.

Parents or guardians of children, or children who have reached the age of 18 years, may make an appeal. Appeals can be made on-line at www.schooltransportappeals.ie .

When received, the Board will liaise directly with the appellant regarding the appeal date and their subsequent deliberations.

Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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851. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the commitment in the Programme for Government to carry out an independent assessment on the feasibility of removing the exclusion of drivers aged over 70 from the school transport scheme; the current status of this assessment; the expected timeline for its completion; and if interim measures will be introduced to allow qualified, medically certified drivers over the age of 70 to operate school transport services in advance of September 2025. [45842/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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The School Transport Scheme is a substantial national operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. In the last academic year, over 173,000 children were transported daily using approximately 8,200 vehicles across 10,600 routes serving both primary and post-primary schools nationwide.

Under the new Programme for Government, a commitment was made to "carry out an independent assessment on the feasibility of removing the exclusion of drivers aged over 70 from the School Transport Scheme".

Currently, the retirement age for school bus drivers is set at 70 years by Bus Éireann. This policy applies to all Bus Éireann road passenger services, including drivers nominated by private operators contracted under the School Transport Scheme. These drives must hold the appropriate license and pass an annual medical examination until retirement at age 70.

In line with this commitment, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) - under the remit of the Department of Transport – commissioned an independent review of the upper age limit for drivers of larger vehicles, including school buses. This review was conducted by Professor Desmond O’Neill, Director of the National Office for Traffic Medicine, and was completed in August 2024. The report is publicly available on the Oireachtas website: PAC - RSA report over 70s.

My Department continues to engage with both the Department of Transport and Bus Éireann to address challenges related to driver and contractor shortages. To address this persistent issue, a taskforce was established which is chaired by the Department of Transport. The Department of Transport has advised that the aim of the taskforce is to work collaboratively to identify contributing factors to the recruitment issues and put forward recommendations and measures to create a pipeline of workers to address these issues. In line with the Department of Transport PfG commitment, this taskforce is currently examining all challenges and opportunities to ensure a fully resourced transport workforce, such as drivers, mechanics, and craftworkers. All factors impacting issues such as recruitment, training and retention will be considered as a part of the taskforce’s work programme.

Bus Éireann has actively sought to recruit more contractors and drivers for the School Transport Scheme. A national and local media campaign was launched earlier this year to attract professional drivers. Further information can be found at: buseirenn.ie/contractors .

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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852. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider reviewing Bus Éireann’s allocation process for concessionary tickets, in particular if she will consider prioritising existing service users; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45878/25]

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. In the 2024/25 school year, over 173,000 children were transported daily in approximately 8,200 vehicles across 10,600 routes daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. These daily trips cover over 100 million kilometres.

This figure includes just under 144,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, just under 22,000 pupils with special educational needs, and just under 7,000 pupils who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine.

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.

The total expenditure on the scheme in 2024 was €512m.

Under the current terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time (apply on time and pay on time) will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where there is capacity to do so.

Children who are not eligible but who apply for school transport are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places. In these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process which is outlined as follows.

Using the Family ID as a reference, first priority is given to all existing concessionary applicants (whether they had seats or not in the last school year) who have paid by the deadline date for payments plus siblings of these pupils provided they also have paid by the deadline date. Second priority is all new applicants who applied and paid by the deadline dates (i.e. those applying for transport for the first time). Finally, all other applicants (for example late applicants/payees).

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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853. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update in relation to the pilot school transport scheme, in particular in relation to the evaluation of 14 pilot projects undertaken in the 2024-2025 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45879/25]

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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854. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update in relation to the pilot school transport scheme, the details of the schools which have been identified as pilot projects for the 2025-2026 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45880/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 853 and 854 together.

The School Transport 2030 report was published in early 2024 following a comprehensive analysis and review of the scheme as it currently operates. The recommended changes to the future operation of the schemes include expansion of the current eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure the best value for money to the Exchequer. It is proposed to expand access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030.

The scale of the scheme is significant, and any changes will take time to plan and implement.

It was outlined at the time of the review’s publication that it would be prudent to implement the scheme changes on a phased basis.

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

These pilots are being evaluated to 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.

It is intended to continue current pilots for the upcoming school year. They will be monitored during the year and a further evaluation will take place at the end of the 2025/2026 school year. 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 Department has asked Bus Éireann to review where additional capacity may be available for concessionary pupils who paid on time and would become eligible if the revised school transport scheme criteria was rolled out in full. This is in order to pilot the revised scheme eligibility criteria in a small number of areas.

Implementation of pilots and sourcing of additional capacity can take time where a procurement process is required, and subsequent vehicle and Driver safety compliance checks need to be completed.

Once a pilot route is established in an area, pupils travelling on this pilot route will still be considered as concessionary under the current terms of the scheme; the revised eligibility criteria is being tested only for the duration of the pilot projects.

Priority is to provide school 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 of the review will continue to be planned subject to resources being available to meet the increased demand.

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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855. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider including a school (details supplied) in the school transport scheme pilot projects for 2025-2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45881/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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A number of School Transport pilot programmes began in the 2024/2025 school year, as part of the recommendations of Review 2030, a Review of the School Transport Scheme.

Work is now underway to identify where more School Transport pilot programmes may be conducted. A number of approaches are being examined including 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. It was intended that following closure of the application process for the 2025/2026 school year consideration would be 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 Department has asked Bus Éireann to review where additional capacity may be available for concessionary pupils who paid on time and would become eligible if the revised school transport scheme criteria was rolled out in full. This is in order to pilot the revised scheme eligibility criteria in a small number of areas. Sourcing of additional capacity can take time where a procurement process is required, and subsequent vehicle and Driver safety compliance checks need to be completed.

Once a pilot route is established in an area, pupils travelling on this pilot route will still be considered as concessionary under the current terms of the scheme; the revised eligibility criteria is being tested only for the duration of the pilot projects.

As part of these pilot routes, the distance criteria for pupils will be reduced to 2km for both primary and post primary and the requirement for a pupil to be attending their closest school will being removed.

Priority is given to provide school 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 of the review will continue to be planned subject to resources being available to meet the increased demand.

Bus Éireann will be in contact with families directly as soon as routes have been finalised and transport has been sourced.