Thomas Gould
Question:315. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children who previously had a contract for school transport in Cork for whom a contract is no longer available. [50239/25]
View answerSchool Transport
Questions (315, 316)
Thomas Gould
Question:316. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of school transport contracts not renewed this year. [50240/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 315 and 316 together.
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
Over 148,000 mainstream tickets have issued to date for the 2025/26 school year, which is already almost 5% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2024/25 school year. Over 19,500 tickets mainstream tickets have issued to date in respect of pupils who attend schools in County Cork.
Unfortunately, difficulties have arisen in a number of locations, particularly in the east of the country, with a small number of ,contracted services, where it has not yet been possible to provide vehicles / drivers. Less than 0.5% of ticket holders on mainstream services nationwide have been affected. This number continues to decrease as services are put in place on a daily basis.
Bus Éireann has also reported that difficulties have arisen in some localities with a small number of contracted services for a small number of families assigned to Special Educational Needs transport services. In some cases, these services were secured for the 2025/26 school year. Due to reported driver/contractor unavailability at short notice, services could not commence as expected. In other cases, zero bids were received for a service, despite repeated efforts to procure one.
Transport challenges for SEN services are concentrated in some parts of the country, particularly Dublin, Cork, Galway, Kildare and Meath.
The Bus Éireann School Transport team is working intensively to ensure that transport arrangements are put in place as soon as possible and contractors are being appointed on an ongoing basis to cover these routes. Bus Éireann is engaging with families where transport was sanctioned and where there may be delays in securing a new service.
Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for children with special educational needs. Families of children who are eligible for these services may therefore receive an interim Special Transport Grant (STG). This is a once off payment, paid retrospectively to families once the School Transport service is in place and is intended to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements the family had put in place until the service starts.
An Exceptional Interim Grant (EIG) will be offered to families affected by the delays in the commencement of their mainstream service. Affected families do not need to apply for these grants and will be contacted directly by School Transport Section with more details.
Question No. 316 answered with Question No. 315.
Question No. 317 answered with Question No. 314.
Teaching Qualifications
Questions (318)
Johnny Mythen
Question:318. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide the date for signing the timebound provision instrument; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50242/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2016. As set out in the Schedule of the Regulations, the Council registers teachers under five routes of registration: Route 1 - Primary, Route 2 - Post-primary, Route 3 - Further Education, Route 4 - Other and Route 5 - Student Teacher. The qualification requirements for each route are set down in the Schedule.
The qualifications of teachers who qualified outside of the Republic of Ireland are assessed on an individual and holistic basis for the purposes of registering as a teacher. Qualifications are assessed for comparability with graduates of initial teacher education programmes accredited by the Teaching Council. All applications from teachers who qualified abroad are processed in line with the EU Directive 2005/36/EC and are assessed in the same manner, regardless of whether they qualified within or outside the EU. The EU Directive provides for the assessment of qualifications for the purposes of recognition, and this recognition may be subject to conditions. The directive enables those teachers who are registered or certified to teach in the jurisdictions in which their qualifications are obtained to apply for registration in the State, however where such registration or certification includes a mandated period of induction or post-qualification practice under the directive this is a requirement of registration in the State.
To assist further with teacher supply challenges, I announced last April that I would work with the Teaching Council to introduce a proposal to enable eligible teachers who have qualified outside of Ireland to apply for registration and complete their induction requirement here.
I see this as an important step in encouraging more teachers to work and start their careers here in Ireland.
Under the Teaching Council Act, the Council makes regulations for the purposes of registration through statutory instrument, including to amend or replace existing regulations. A new set of registration regulations have been drafted which include the provision for induction in the state for teachers qualified outside of the state for a specified period of time. The making of such regulations are subject to certain requirements, including engaging with the Data Protection Commissioner in the context of data protection legislation. Statutory Instrument No 413/2022 - European Union (Regulated Professional Assessment) Regulations 2022 prescribes that a proportionality impact assessment be carried out on any regulations related to access regulated professions, so this was also undertaken on the draft registration regulations. The Teaching Council also undertook consultation with relevant education stakeholders as is the usual practice. Legal advice was also obtained. and all of those steps added to the time required, ensuring that the final draft regulations are proportional, with no legal impediments to the making of same.
It is expected that primary and post-primary teachers, who qualified outside of the Republic of Ireland and apply to complete their induction here under the new provision, will be subject to meeting eligibility and qualifications requirements prior to approval.
I am pleased to inform you that the final draft of the new Registration Regulations has been received from the Teaching Council and is progressing through the required procedures so that it can be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas to be implemented shortly.
Please refer to the Teaching Council website, www.teachingcouncil.ie, for updates regarding the making of the new Registration Regulations, and for information on accessing the timebound provision for overseas qualified applicants to register and complete their induction in the State.
Child Abuse
Questions (319)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:319. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the schemes currently in place for survivors of sexual abuse at Christian Brothers schools; to provide details separate to any schemes for industrial schools; the supports in place for survivors of this horrific abuse; the supports in place for those who wish to pursue a legal case but are faced with the situation that there is no one legal entity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50244/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy will be aware that a Commission of Investigation has been established by the Government to investigate the handling of historical child sexual abuse in all day and boarding schools, including schools run by the Christian Brothers. The Commission is independent in its operation and, when it is ready to begin its engagement with survivors of child sexual abuse in schools, this will be widely advertised.
The terms of reference for the Commission of Investigation require that it will strive to be as survivor-centred as possible, consistent with fair procedures, and will promote support for survivors at all key stages of the process, a trauma-informed approach to working with those who have experienced child sexual abuse, including emotional and psychological support, and take practical steps to mitigate risks of retraumatisation, in consultation with survivors and relevant expert advice.
The Inter Departmental Group (IDG) established to advise Government on the recommendations of the Scoping Inquiry has advised that further work needs to be undertaken on any potential redress scheme that may be established in the future. This work will continue in parallel with the establishment of the Commission, which does not have a role in relation to redress.
This further work will include detailed examination of a range of issues, including the status of unincorporated associations, which can make it challenging for survivors of historical child sexual abuse pursue a legal case.
School Accommodation
Questions (320)
John Connolly
Question:320. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken to progress the application for a new school building for a school (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the urgent need for this new school building due to the current overcrowding and the ageing infrastructure currently accommodating students and staff at the school that is not fit for purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50249/25]
View answerWritten answers
The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered as part of my Department’s ADAPT Programme.
The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction.
The brief for this major project is to provide a New 16 Classroom School & 2 classrooms for children with special educational needs, at the existing site in Moycullen. The Board of Management have acquired additional land to accommodate a new build.
The project is at completion of Stage 2(b) of the architectural design process. Stage 2(b) involves detailed design, securing all statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documentation. Planning Permission was secured in May 2023.
In July the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026-2030 under the National Development Plan. As part of this NDP allocation my department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs. In relation to project rollout for Large-Scale projects and Additional School Accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project rollout over the course of 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs.
My department is now preparing an NDP implementation plan which is due for publication later in the Autumn. This plan will optimise outputs from the NDP allocations, with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient, and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money, and meets functional needs.
School Accommodation
Questions (321)
John Connolly
Question:321. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has any proposals to provide a secondary school in Moycullen, County Galway, taking account of the increase in secondary school aged children residing in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50268/25]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that the requirement for school places is kept under on-going review in the context of available information on population, enrolments and residential development activity.
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system, using data from a range of sources, including CSO census data, child benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Major new residential developments have the potential to alter the demand for school places at a local level. In that regard, as part of the demographic demand analysis, my department monitors planning and construction activity in the residential sector. This involves the analysis of data sources from local authorities and the CSO along with the engagement with local authorities and the construction sector. In this way, up-to-date information on significant new residential developments is obtained and factored into the demographic analysis exercise. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes, at a local level, where there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
• Provision of a new school or schools.
If additional accommodation is required, the aim to try and facilitate this, as much as possible, by way of expansion of existing schools rather than establishing new schools. The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives under Project Ireland 2040 for an increased emphasis on compact growth. In respect of post primary schools, new post primary schools must have a student enrolment capacity of 600-1,000 students and must be co-educational. A lower threshold of 400 students may apply to gaelcholáistí, having regard to the alternative of establishing an Irish-medium unit (aonad) in an English-medium school.
New schools are only established in areas of demographic growth as the resources available for school infrastructure have to be prioritised to meet the needs of areas of significant population increase so as to ensure that every child has a school place.
Moycullen is located in the Spiddal_Inverin school planning area. Based on analysis undertaken, it is deemed that there is not a sufficient unmet demand in the Spiddal_Inverin school planning area to establish a new post primary school.
The department will continue to liaise with Galway County Council in respect of their county development plan and any associated local area plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas.
Teaching Qualifications
Questions (322)
Conor Sheehan
Question:322. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the revised Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations, 2016 will come into force in order that the timebound provision can be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50269/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2016. As set out in the Schedule of the Regulations, the Council registers teachers under five routes of registration: Route 1 - Primary, Route 2 - Post-primary, Route 3 - Further Education, Route 4 - Other and Route 5 - Student Teacher. The qualification requirements for each route are set down in the Schedule.
The qualifications of teachers who qualified outside of the Republic of Ireland are assessed on an individual and holistic basis for the purposes of registering as a teacher. Qualifications are assessed for comparability with graduates of initial teacher education programmes accredited by the Teaching Council. All applications from teachers who qualified abroad are processed in line with the EU Directive 2005/36/EC and are assessed in the same manner, regardless of whether they qualified within or outside the EU. The EU Directive provides for the assessment of qualifications for the purposes of recognition, and this recognition may be subject to conditions. The directive enables those teachers who are registered or certified to teach in the jurisdictions in which their qualifications are obtained to apply for registration in the State, however where such registration or certification includes a mandated period of induction or post-qualification practice under the directive this is a requirement of registration in the State.
To assist further with teacher supply challenges, I announced last April that I would work with the Teaching Council to introduce a proposal to enable eligible teachers who have qualified outside of Ireland to apply for registration and complete their induction requirement here.
I see this as an important step in encouraging more teachers to work and start their careers here in Ireland.
Under the Teaching Council Act, the Council makes regulations for the purposes of registration through statutory instrument, including to amend or replace existing regulations. A new set of registration regulations have been drafted which include the provision for induction in the state for teachers qualified outside of the state for a specified period of time. The making of such regulations are subject to certain requirements, including engaging with the Data Protection Commissioner in the context of data protection legislation. Statutory Instrument No 413/2022 - European Union (Regulated Professional Assessment) Regulations 2022 prescribes that a proportionality impact assessment be carried out on any regulations related to access regulated professions, so this was also undertaken on the draft registration regulations. The Teaching Council also undertook consultation with relevant education stakeholders as is the usual practice. Legal advice was also obtained. and all of those steps added to the time required, ensuring that the final draft regulations are proportional, with no legal impediments to the making of same.
It is expected that primary and post-primary teachers, who qualified outside of the Republic of Ireland and apply to complete their induction here under the new provision, will be subject to meeting eligibility and qualifications requirements prior to approval.
I am pleased to inform you that the final draft of the new Registration Regulations has been received from the Teaching Council and is progressing through the required procedures so that it can be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas to be implemented shortly.
Please refer to the Teaching Council website, www.teachingcouncil.ie, for updates regarding the making of the new Registration Regulations, and for information on accessing the timebound provision for overseas qualified applicants to register and complete their induction in the State.
School Transport
Questions (323)
John Brady
Question:323. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the difficulties being experienced on a school transport route (details supplied); the steps being taken by her Department to resolve the matter; and if she will confirm when will the route be operational again. [50277/25]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
Unfortunately, Bus Éireann has reported difficulties in specific locations with a small number of contracted services, where it has not yet been possible to provide vehicles and/or drivers. These difficulties have arisen in some cases due to lack of driver or contractor availability, or where either zero bids were received for a service, despite repeated efforts to procure one. The Bus Éireann School Transport team is working intensively to ensure that transport arrangements are put in place as soon as possible.
While the situation is dynamic with solutions being found on a regular basis, currently this represents approximately 0.5% of vehicles operating mainstream school transport services nationally. Bus Éireann has contacted the affected families directly and will maintain communications with them.
Bus Éireann has advised that the route referred to by the Deputy is now operating.
An “Exceptional No Service Interim Grant” payable by the Department, which will be based on the number of days children attend school will be made available to the families. The grant is only available to the small number of families who have already received a school transport ticket from Bus Éireann and where difficulties have meant that transport is not be in place for the start of the school year. Bus Éireann have contacted these families directly. Families do not need to make an application for the exceptional payment. Those who have been issued a ticket and do not have a service in place will be contacted shortly by School Transport Section in the Department.
School Transport
Questions (324)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:324. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school transport service (details supplied); the reason for his Department's delay in sanctioning this service for tender; if the tender will be sanctioned and prioritised at the earliest opportunity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50291/25]
View answerWritten answers
In September 2025, Rathcoole ETNS moved to modular accommodation on a site in Newcastle. The school was previously located in interim accommodation on a school campus site in Citywest, Dublin. Bus transport had been provided for the school to this location by the Planning and Building Unit as a private arrangement. The reason transport was provided to this interim accommodation site in Citywest is because it was located outside of the School Planning Area.
In advance of the school’s move to the site in Newcastle, the Department advised the school and patron body that the private bus transport arrangement would not be provided to the Newcastle site as this site is now within the School Planning Area and families should apply for school transport under the School Transport Scheme.
Under the terms of the Primary School Transport scheme, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Eligible children who complete the application process and pay or enter their medical card details on time will get a seat on a school bus service, if a service is available.
Children who are not eligible for school transport but complete the application and pay or enter their medical card details on time will be considered for any spare seats available after eligible children have been accommodated. These spare seats are called concessionary seats.
There may be more demand than availability for concessionary seats. In such cases, Bus Éireann will use a selection process to allocate tickets for the spare seats.
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 has advised that the new location of Rathcoole ETNS has been updated on their system and they completed the re-assessment of all new applications to this school for the 2025/26 school year.
The deadline date for applying and paying for school transport services for the 2025/26 school year has now closed and Bus Éireann have assigned tickets to eligible students based on eligibility criteria within the school transport scheme. Families who were unsuccessful in obtaining a seat will be notified via email and a refund will issue.
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 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.
Contact details for school transport section can be found at:
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/services/school-transport/#school-transport-customer-contact-form
School Funding
Questions (325)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:325. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that many schools are in need of a grant calendar to ensure they can budget for upcoming expenses and not have to rely on the financial support services unit or parents for guidance or financial assistance due to delays in grant payments or reductions in grant amounts; the timeframe for a full implementation of these scheduled grant calendars; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50311/25]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is committed to providing schools at both primary and post-primary level with as much detail regarding grants, grant amounts and expected payment timeframes for each academic year in as far in advance as is practicable.
For the 2025/26 academic year, officials in my Department are currently considering the presentation of schedules for grants that will include, as applicable across primary and post-primary, Standarised Testing, Capitation, Digital Strategy ICT, Deontas Breise Gaeilge, Free School Books, Ancillary grant, School Services Support Fund, Programme grants and DEIS grants.
My Department is aware that costs and funding can pose a problem for schools, and is constantly working to address this matter, and to enhance the financial and other supports available to schools. While not wishing to pre-empt the outcomes of any future Budget negotiations or fiscal parameters agreed by Government, my Department will continue to seek and prioritise the funding required to meet the ongoing costs of running schools.
School Funding
Questions (326)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:326. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures she is taking to ensure schools have sufficient knowledge of when they will receive a grant, and how much the grant amounts to, in order to budget throughout the year as a school (details supplied) cannot budget for the year ahead or carry out the accounting requests from the FSSU; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50312/25]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is committed to providing schools at both primary and post-primary level with as much detail regarding grants, grant amounts and expected payment timeframes for each academic year in as far in advance as is practicable.
For the 2025/26 academic year, officials in my Department are currently considering the presentation of schedules for grants that will include, as applicable across primary and post-primary, Standarised Testing, Capitation, Digital Strategy ICT, Deontas Breise Gaeilge, Free School Books, Ancillary grant, School Services Support Fund, Programme grants and DEIS grants.
My Department is aware that costs and funding can pose a problem for schools, and is constantly working to address this matter, and to enhance the financial and other supports available to schools. While not wishing to pre-empt the outcomes of any future Budget negotiations or fiscal parameters agreed by Government, my Department will continue to seek and prioritise the funding required to meet the ongoing costs of running schools.
The Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), funded by my Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters, including budgeting and cashflow management. Contact details for FSSU can be found on www.fssu.ie.
Schools in financial difficulty are encouraged to contact my Department for advice and support. My Department is committed to offering all available and appropriate supports to schools, which may include an advance in capitation grant funding or other measures.
My Department is constantly engaging with a number of schools in this respect. Schools that have contacted the Department have been referred to the FSSU. Officials from my Department are in regular contact with the school referred to by the Deputy. We encourage this school to continue to engage with the FSSU, and the school’s Patron, in order to work to rectify the financial challenges at the school.
Disadvantaged Status
Questions (327)
James O'Connor
Question:327. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Youth her Department's plans to update the DEIS plus plan before the end of 2025; the timeline for the publication of this document; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50317/25]
View answerWritten answers
Tackling education disadvantage and helping students reach their full potential is a key priority for me as Minister for Education and Youth, and for the Government. Currently, the DEIS programme supports almost 1,200 primary and post-primary schools, reaching approximately 260,000 students, with an annual investment of over €180 million.
As Minister, I am committed to narrowing the performance gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools and introducing innovative solutions to address disadvantage. A new DEIS Plan will be published this year, which will include a DEIS Plus scheme. This new scheme will provide additional support to schools with the highest levels of need, in line with the Government’s commitment. To inform the development of the DEIS Plus scheme, a Design Advisory group has been established. It includes school principals, Home School Community Liaison officers, and School Completion Programme coordinators, professionals who work directly with children experiencing high intergenerational disadvantage. Their insights will help shape a proposal for a DEIS Plus scheme that will support schools with the highest concentrations of children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage. Details of the DEIS Plus scheme are currently being developed in collaboration with the advisory group and will be announced later this year.
School Transport
Questions (328)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:328. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the implementation of the school transport review; if her Department will prioritise schools and areas with ongoing eligibility and capacity issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50330/25]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport 2030 report was published in early 2024 following a comprehensive analysis and review of the scheme as it currently operates. The recommended changes to the future operation of the schemes include expansion of the current eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure the best value for money to the Exchequer. It is proposed to expand access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030.
The scale of the scheme is significant, and any changes will take time to plan and implement.
It was outlined at the time of the review’s publication that it would be prudent to implement the scheme changes on a phased basis.
A phased implementation of the review’s recommendations began at the start of the 2024/2025 school year in conjunction with the Department of Transport and Bus Éireann . A total of 14 pilot projects took place in the 2024/2025 school year
It is intended to continue current pilots for the 2025/26 school year. They will be monitored during the year and evaluated in full at the end of the 2025/2026 school year. These pilots will provide valuable insights into the impact of increased demand on the scheme, the potential for integrating public transport with school transport services, and opportunities to promote more sustainable modes of transport. The findings from these evaluations will guide the planning and implementation needed for a national rollout of a revised School Transport Scheme.
The School Transport Section of the Department is actively engaging with Bus Éireann, to assess and identify where more School Transport pilot programmes may be successfully delivered. The Department has asked Bus Éireann to review where additional capacity may be available for concessionary pupils who paid on time and would become eligible if the revised school transport scheme criteria was rolled out in full.
This is in order to pilot the revised scheme eligibility criteria in a small number of areas. Sourcing of additional capacity can take time where a procurement process is required, and subsequent vehicle and Driver safety compliance checks need to be completed.
A number of approaches are being examined including the use of a Geographic Information System (GIS) to identify how many additional children would become eligible and where they are located. A digital mapping project of all existing school bus routes is being developed, and there is ongoing collaboration with the Department of Transport, Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority in regard to planned expansion of public transport routes to explore where integration may be possible.
Implementation of the recommendations of the review will continue to be planned subject to resources being available to meet the increased demand.
School Transport
Questions (329)
Mairéad Farrell
Question:329. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of concessionary ticket applications which were refused in 2025 to date on bus route 770 to Coláiste na Coiribe in Galway; the figure for each of the past five years, in tabular form; if a larger bus has been requested for this route and the outcome of that request; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50331/25]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
Under the current terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Eligible children who complete the application process and pay or enter their medical card details on time will get a seat on a school bus service, if a service is available.
Children who are not eligible for school transport but complete the application and pay or enter their medical card details on time will be considered for any spare seats available after eligible children have been accommodated. These spare seats are called concessionary seats.
There may be more demand than availability for concessionary seats. In such cases, Bus Éireann will use a selection process to allocate tickets for the spare seats.
The data requested by the Deputy on this route is not readily available. When it is available School Transport Section in my Department will forward it on directly.
National Council for Special Education
Questions (330)
Emer Currie
Question:330. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on an NCSE matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50365/25]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Assistive Technology Scheme, as set out in my Department’s Circular 0010/2013, funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment which are required for educational purposes.
All equipment provided under this scheme supports children with more complex disabilities who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential specialist equipment. It must be clear that the existing I.T. equipment in the school is insufficient to meet the child's needs. Where necessary, schools may also purchase new or additional equipment or software for students from normal school resources or funds.
I can confirm that my Department received an application for assistive technology for the pupil named by the Deputy and funding was sanctioned to the school on the 14th of May 2025. Our records further indicate that the school has procured the assistive technology as they were recently reimbursed for the associated costs, in line with the terms of the scheme and up to the value of the approved grant.