Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2025
431. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the following case (details supplied) and if she will instruct her Department to ensure that the child in question is able to have adequate transport to school. [73385/25]
View answerThe 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. The pupil referred to by the Deputy is assigned to one of these routes.
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.
Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs. Bus Éireann are required to tender services in line with procurement guidelines and are responsible for the allocating and Garda vetting clearance of a contractor to operate this service.
In such circumstances where there is no existing suitable service available to meet a child's needs, and while Bus Éireann are in the process of establishing the service for the child referred, the Department will offer an Interim Special Transport Grant (STG) to families of eligible children towards the cost of private transport arrangements. This is based on the number of days attended from the date of application until a suitable service becomes available. The family has been contacted in this regard.
