Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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857. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason Kerry families were only given 11 days' notice that their children will not receive school bus seats in 2025 despite the fact that they booked and paid for their bus tickets in April (details supplied); if she will secure alternative transport for these students ASAP; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45893/25]

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 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.

The availability of concessionary transport may vary from year to year and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s primary or post primary school education cycle. In relation to the route referred to, the demand for concessionary seats exceeded the available capacity and Bus Éireann could not facilitate all pupils seeking transport for the 25/26 school year.

Full details of the school transport schemes are available on the Department of Education and Youth’s website www.gov.ie/schooltransport .