Mark Wall
Ceist:527. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider a request to make changes to a school bus route to better serve students in a local area (details supplied). [14503/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 24 February 2026
Ceisteanna (527)
Freagraí scríofa
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 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.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Temporary alleviation measures (TAMs) have continued for the 2025/26 school year at post-primary level. This means that, if there are available services and enough capacity, transport is provided for concessionary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school but are attending their second nearest post-primary centre. This is only if they have applied and paid or entered medical card details on time.
Routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than 3.2 kilometres to travel to a pick-up point. Children are generally expected to make their own way, or to be brought to convenient pick-up points along the main route. Routes cannot be altered for concessionary/TAMs pupils.
Bus Éireann have advised that the family referred to by the Deputy are concessionary (TAMs) as they are attending their second nearest post primary centre and that the pupil resides 4.6km from their nearest pick up point.
Bus Éireann have further advised that the road with the requested pickup point is not suitable to support a large PSV vehicle safely.