Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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540. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the interim arrangements in place to financially compensate parents impacted by the lack of school bus services at the start of this school year; when interim arrangements will come into effect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48635/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take PQs 540 and 548 together.

Unfortunately, Bus Éireann has reported difficulties in specific locations with a small number of contracted services, where it has not yet been possible to provide vehicles and/or drivers.

These difficulties have arisen in some cases due to lack of driver or contractor availability, or where either zero bids were received for a service, despite repeated efforts to procure one. The Bus Éireann School Transport team is working intensively to ensure that transport arrangements are put in place as soon as possible.

While the situation is dynamic with solutions being found on a regular basis, currently this represents approximately 0.4% of vehicles operating mainstream school transport services nationally. Bus Éireann has contacted the affected families directly and will maintain communications with them.

An “Exceptional No Service Interim Grant” payable by the Department, which will be based on the number of days children attend school will be made available to the families. The grant is only available to the small number of families who have already received a school transport ticket from Bus Éireann and where difficulties have meant that transport is not be in place for the start of the school year. Bus Éireann have contacted these families directly. Families do not need to make an application for the exceptional payment. Those who have been issued a ticket and do not have a service in place will be contacted shortly by School Transport Section in the Department.

Work is continuing in order to resolve this matter and Bus Éireann are committed to providing transport to these students as quickly as is possible.

Bus Éireann has put in place a dedicated customer care call centre to assist families specifically with School Transport queries during the busy summer period. Families that have queries can contact the call centre on: LoCall 0818 919 910. Operating hours are usually 09.00 – 17.00 Monday to Friday.

Families can also contact Bus Éireann by submitting a query via the following link eur05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Feducation.cloud.gov.ie%2Fapps%2FePQ%2FLists%2FParliamentaryQuestions%2FForms%2FParliamentary%2520Question%2FCustomer%2520Care%2520-%2520Bus%2520%25C3%2589ireann%2520-%2520View%2520Ireland%2520Bus%2520and%2520Coach%2520Timetables%2520%26%2520Buy%2520Tickets%2520(buseireann.ie)&data=05%7C02%7CPQ_Queries%40education.gov.ie%7Cd6e95e9750e343d7e53008ddf5d0e2bf%7Cf5c0d15a869347e3b506b1617300787f%7C0%7C0%7C638936999716365218%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=HRE91GSruloqVmozho7HSe4njO3iCwqktYXWNUl4k1Y%3D&reserved=0