School Transport

Wednesday, 21 January 2026

Questions (117, 118)

Ryan O'Meara

Question:

117. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth for a list of the routes added to the school transport scheme in 2025 for primary, secondary and special schools. [4762/26]

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118. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if any existing school transport scheme routes (primary, secondary and special schools) saw increased capacity in 2025; and if so, if she will provide the details of same. [4763/26]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 117 together.

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 current 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.

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.

Where practicable, and subject to considerations of cost and logistics, routes are planned to avoid an eligible child having to travel more than 3.2 kms to or from a pick-up/set down point. Routes are planned on the basis of the locations of children who are eligible for school transport only.

In December 2025, the number of mainstream pupils on school transport was over 151,000. This compares to over 143,700 in December 2025, an increase of approximately 7,300 pupils.

In addition, the number of pupils on dedicated school transport for children with special educational needs was almost 24,500 in December 2025 in comparison to 22,000 in December 2024, an increase of approximately 2,500 pupils.

It is not possible to provide the specific details requested by the Deputy in the manner required.

In addition to the above, in line with the phased implementation of the School Transport Review’s recommendations, the Department began testing the feasibility of a number of approaches through a series of pilot programmes; these pilot programmes are held in conjunction with the National Transport Authority, the Department of Transport and Bus Éireann.

A total of fourteen pilot projects took place in the 2024/2025 school year and are continuing in the current school year. Following the closing date for payment for the 2025/2026 school year the Department, in collaboration with Bus Éireann, assessed where more dedicated school transport/pilots may be successfully delivered, and a further eleven pilots were approved.

All pilots, including those which commenced in the 2024/2025 school year, are being monitored and a further evaluation will take place at the end of the 2025/2026 school year. Findings from these evaluations will guide the planning and implementation needed for a national rollout of a revised School Transport Scheme.

Question No. 118 answered with Question No. 117.