Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 April 2026
48. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the school transport pilot scheme; the number of schools included in the scheme for the 2025/2026 academic year; if there are plans to expand the scheme to other schools for the upcoming academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28772/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra62. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the progress made to date in advancing reforms to the school transport scheme, and specifically, in the removal of the nearest school criteria; whether additional pilot programmes will be undertaken in 2026/2027; how routes will be selected for any additional pilot programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29095/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra74. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to clarify how routes are selected for inclusion in the pilot programmes being implemented under the reforms to the school transport scheme; the role Bus Éireann plays in this process; and whether County Cork routes are to be included in the next phase of the pilot programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29096/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 62 and 74 together.
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
The School Transport 2030 report was published in early 2024 following a comprehensive analysis and review of the scheme as it currently operates. The recommended changes to the schemes include expansion of the current eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure the best value for money to the Exchequer. It was outlined at the time of the review’s publication that due to the scale of the scheme it would be prudent to implement the changes on a phased basis.
A phased implementation of the review’s recommendations began at the start of the 2024/2025 school year alongside with the Department of Transport and Bus Éireann. A total of 14 pilot projects took place that year have continued for the current school year.
My Department then engaged further with Bus Éireann to review where additional capacity may be available for concessionary pupils who paid on time and would become eligible if the revised school transport scheme criteria was rolled out fully. 11 further pilots were identified and approved following this exercise.
As part of these pilots, the distance criteria for pupils is reduced to 2km for primary and post primary and the need for a pupil to be attending their nearest school is removed.
All pilots are being monitored and a further evaluation will take place at the end of the current school year. Findings from these evaluations will guide the planning and implementation needed for a national rollout of a revised School Transport Scheme.
Implementation of the recommendations of the review will continue to be planned subject to resources being available to meet the increased demand.
