Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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930. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the details of a school transport scheme route (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46289/25]

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.

The purpose of the Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. It is made up of the Mainstream scheme at Primary and Post Primary level, as well as the scheme for pupils with Special Educational Needs.

Bus Éireann has reported that difficulties have arisen in some localities with a small number of contracted services that operate under the Special Educational Needs scheme. The route referred to by the Deputy is one of those affected, in this case due to a procurement issue.

A Special Transport Interim Grant has been offered to families of children with special educational needs who, following the application process, are eligible under the terms of the school transport scheme and are awaiting a School Transport service to be put in place.

This grant is a once off payment. The interim grant is offered from the date of application to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements the family put in place until a transport service is ready to commence. The School Transport Section has provided further information on the grant to the parent referred to by the Deputy.

Work is continuing in order to resolve this matter. Bus Éireann are committed to providing transport as quickly as possible and the local office will contact the families affected when the service is ready to operate.

Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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931. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether a pupil could avail of a closer school bus pickup point from their home (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46296/25]

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 has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy has since been assigned to a pick up point 2.3 km from home.

Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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932. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether two school bus tickets could be re-issued to the correct address (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46327/25]

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 has advised that they have arranged for bus tickets to be issued to the address referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied.

Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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933. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a group of students could avail of a closer school bus pickup point (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46331/25]

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.

The purpose of the scheme is to provide transport for children living remotely from their nearest school.

Under the current terms of the 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.

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 Éireann has advised that this family are not eligible for transport as they are attending their second nearest Post Primary Centre. They advise that the pupil resides 2.3 kilometres from home to the pick up point which is within the guidelines of the scheme.

Regarding the existing pickup point, Bus Éireann has reviewed this and advised that the road is not considered to be any more dangerous than other approach roads to pick up points in use throughout the country. There is an onus of responsibility on parents/guardians to arrange to bring their children to and from the pickup point of a school bus service, taking whatever safety precautions, they consider sufficient in doing so, and accompanying the children to ensure their safety and allay any concern, if necessary.