Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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71. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school transport route has been sanctioned (details supplied); if she is aware the service is not being provided; the reason for delay; when clear information and a full service for this school will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50802/25]

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 is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes on behalf of the Department. Safety of children travelling on school transport services is of paramount importance to the Department and to Bus Éireann. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.

Where practicable, and subject to considerations of cost and logistics, routes are planned to avoid an eligible child having to travel more than 3.2 km to or from a pick-up/set down point or to have travel and waiting times in excess of 1.5 hours per day. Routes are planned on the basis of the locations of children who are eligible for school transport only.

Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring that children are brought safely to and collected safely from Bus Éireann designated pick up and set down points.

Bus Éireann has advised that the service referred to by the Deputy commenced on the 27 August 2025.

A number of pupils on this route have to travel approximately 2km from home to their closest pick-up point which has been deemed safe.

Should the families wish to provide the GPS coordinates that were provided to them for a pick-up point, this can be looked into further.

This information can be submitted to the School Transport Section of the Department at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/services/school-transport/#school-transport-customer-contact-form.