Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 April 2026
111. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps she is taking to support private bus and coach operators in the provision of school transport in rural regions in light of the cost of fuel crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29119/26]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
My Department fully appreciates the concerns of recent global events and the impacts already being seen in fuel prices in Ireland. It is important that these impacts continue to be monitored.
The Department fully appreciates the concerns given the recent global events and the impacts already being seen in fuel prices in Ireland. Critically, in light of these developments, a support package of measures, aimed at easing the rising cost of fuel across relevant sectors, was approved by Cabinet recently, in order to provide targeted relief to transport operators including school transport operators. The Department of Education and Youth is actively engaging with relevant department colleagues to ensure that appropriate and flexible supports are provided, that can be implemented quickly given the impact of fuel price increases across the transport sector.
The details of these supports are currently being finalised, and further information will be available shortly.
