Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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568. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on school transport for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48891/25]

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 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, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kms 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 and payment process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application and payment process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.

In cases where the Department is satisfied that the nearest school is full, eligibility for school transport will be determined based on the distance a child resides from his/her next nearest school having regard to ethos and language.

To establish that the nearest school is full parents must provide the following to School Transport Section of my Department for consideration:

1. Evidence that an application for enrolment was made within the deadline dates specified by the school and

2. A letter from the School Authorities confirming that the school was full at time of application.

Bus Éireann have confirmed that applications for school transport were received by four of the families referred to by the Deputy in July 2025. Of these four applications, three families are not attending their nearest school and one of the families does not meet the distance criteria . Therefore these pupils are deemed ineligible for school Transport.

Also, the minimum of 10 on time applications from eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services has not been met.