Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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279. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review correspondence regarding school transport (details supplied); if tickets will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49769/25]

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 my 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.

Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 km from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 km 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) are 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.

Bus Eireann has confirmed that the pupils mentioned by the Deputy are attending their 3rd closest school and hence are mainstream concessionary. Bus Éireann further advise that the pupils applied and paid on time for the current school year but they were not successful in obtaining concessionary tickets for 25/26 school year and the service is full to capacity. A refund will issue shortly.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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280. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will examine correspondence regarding school tickets for children (details supplied); if tickets will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49770/25]

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 my 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.

Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 km from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 km 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) are 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.

Bus Eireann has advised that the pupils mentioned by the Deputy are concessionary to the school referenced as they are attending their 4th closest school. The pupils mentioned by the Deputy applied and paid on time for the 25/26 school year but unfortunately were not successful in obtaining concessionary tickets and the service is operating to capacity. Bus Éireann further advise that the family were refunded their application fee 29th August.