Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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466. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional places allocated for 2026 as part of the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55133/25]

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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514. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the proportion of the €69 million of the additional funding for school transport announced for 2026 that will be used for ELS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55327/25]

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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515. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the proportion of the €69 million of the additional funding for school transport announced for 2026 that will be used for children with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55328/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 466, 514 and 515 together.

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.

In the current school year already almost 178,000 children and young people are being transported on a daily basis to schools throughout the country.

Over €69 million of additional funding is being allocated to school transport services. This is to provide for the additional demand for pupils with special educational needs on school transport services and increased bus contractor running costs.

It will also provide for additional funding on the School Transport Scheme fleet, and to implement improved technology such as e-ticketing on school transport services. E-ticketing will enhance students’ experiences on school transport and allow for greater visibility on seat usage. With better data, this will inform future route planning and maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of the system.

The Budget documentation published sets out funding for key measures and actions agreed for the coming year. As the Deputy may be aware, in line with standard practice, the final allocation of funding for my department for 2026 will be set out in the 2026 Revised Estimates Volume (REV) which is due to be published later this year. Further details on the 2026 allocations for my department will be available after the 2026 REV process is complete.