Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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175. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a child (details supplied) is still without school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53118/25]

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 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms 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 Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy resides 2.5 kms from home to school, their nearest school and school of attendance. This pupil is not eligible for transport as they do not meet the distance criteria under the primary school transport scheme.

Bus Éireann further advise that the pupil mentioned was unsuccessful in obtaining a concessionary seat for the 2025/26 school year and the existing service is currently operating to capacity.