Aisling Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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111. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a bus will be available from Rathcore to a school (details supplied) given the demand has been demonstrated. [60274/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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One of the recommendations of the School Transport 2030 Review was that the Department of Education and Youth, together with Bus Éireann and the Department of Transport should carry out an assessment as to where school transport pilot schemes could be successfully established. This assessment is based on a number of factors, including local evidence of demand, the availability of resources and checking capacity pressures of local schools in the area.

The recommended action as part of the review is to implement any changes on a phased basis. It was outlined at the time of the publication of the review that, given that the proposed changes to the eligibility criteria are likely to further increase demand for the scheme, it is considered prudent to implement the proposed scheme changes on a phased basis. While pilot projects were considered for the 2025/2026 school year in select areas to test revised eligibility criteria, these pilots are limited in scope and capacity.

Challenges have been encountered in recent school years and in the current school year where there are issues with resource availability (drivers/contractors) across the wider transport sector.

The Review recommended that consultation should take place with the Department’s Planning and Building Unit (PBU) in the case of a new school not served by an existing school transport route or in the case of increased demand for a new route. This is to assist in route design and to determine whether to establish a new route.

In School Transport's Section consultation with the PBU where a new route was proposed, PBU has advised that there are current capacity pressures in the school of attendance.

Priority is to provide school transport to pupils that are eligible under the current terms of the school transport scheme.

Implementation of the recommendations of the review will continue to be planned subject to resources being available to meet the increased demand.

In cases where families have applied to attend their nearest schools with regard to ethos and language and have been advised by the school authorities that these schools are full, the Department will consider if the pupil(s) is eligible to the next nearest school.

While the closest school(s) may be full to capacity at present, each family must supply the documents mentioned below, to School Transport Section of the Department of Education and Youth.

• an application for enrolment was made within the deadline dates specified by the school(s), and
• a letter from each of the school authorities confirming that the school was full.

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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112. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will ensure that transport is arranged for (details supplied) as a matter of urgency, given that there is a proximate bus route with space available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60310/25]

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.

I am pleased to advise that the pupil referred to is eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme, and an application for school transport was received on 7th October 2025.

Bus Éireann have advised that this pupil can be accommodated on an existing service, and Bus Eireann Local Office will contact the family directly in this regard.

Since the pupil referred to could not be accommodated on a service from the commencement of the 2025/26 school year, School Transport Section of my department has sanctioned a Special Transport Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements for that period, and officials from School Transport Section has now sent all the necessary paperwork to the family in this regard.