Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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448. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 536 of 17 September 2025, if students can avail of an existing school bus route between Loughrea and Ballinasloe (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51449/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. 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. Bus Éireann are required to tender services in line with procurement guidelines and are responsible for the allocating and vetting of a contractor to operate services.

Officials in the School Transport Section of my Department have made further enquiries with Bus Eireann on the status of the service that has been sanctioned to cater for the two pupils referred to by the Deputy. Bus Éireann have advised that the service is still in procurement process but the local office hope to have an update in the coming days.

Enquiries have also been made regarding the pupils joining an existing service as mentioned by the Deputy. Regrettably, this request cannot be accommodated due to timing issues.