Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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66. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school bus ticket application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50712/25]

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 post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary 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.

The availability of concessionary transport may vary from year to year and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s post primary school education cycle. Where the number of applications for transport on a concessionary basis exceeds the number of seats available, Bus Éireann will determine the allocation of the tickets using an agreed selection process.

Bus Éireann advise that the family referred to by the Deputy are not eligible for transport as they reside 4.3km to their nearest post primary centre, which is under the distance criteria. They were unsuccessful in obtaining a concessionary ticket for the 2025/26 school year and the service is operating to capacity.

As the Deputy has mentioned that one of the children has special needs, I wish to draw your attention to the school transport scheme for pupils with Special Educational Needs.

Under the terms of this scheme, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO) in the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO. Applications for this scheme are accepted all year around. If the parent wishes to pursue an application, they should contact their school in the first instance.