Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2026
653. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which her Department intends to ensure that new contracts for the school transport scheme will be issued without delay after the expiry of the current term in June, to provide consistency and reliability for bus operators; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10395/26]
View answerThe purpose of the 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. It is made up of the Mainstream scheme at Primary and Post Primary level, as well as the scheme for pupils with Special Educational Needs.
It is a demand led scheme based on the number of eligible children who apply. In the coming weeks the Bus Éireann family portal will open for mainstream applications for the 2026/27 school year and the Department will begin accepting applications under the scheme for pupils with special educational needs.
The scheme is operated using a mix of Bus Éireann owned vehicles and private contractors.
As part of the operation of the scheme, Bus Éireann manages the procurement tender process and contact management arrangements to include services provided by contractors. This includes the procurement tendering process to include services provided by contractors under the scheme. This is a competitive process conducted in accordance with the negotiated procedure under national and EU procurement legislation. Contracts are awarded in line with procurement guidelines.
