Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 July 2026
260. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the Exceptional No Service Interim Grant, noting that it was made available to families affected when Bus Éireann issued tickets for the 2025/2026 school year and difficulties subsequently arose with a small number of contracted services in certain localities (details supplied). [52357/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Education and Youth were aware that at the commencement of the 2025/26 school year, a small number of school transport services are delayed, even though tickets were issued.
Bus Éireann, which runs the scheme, has advised that some school bus routes could not start due to a lack of contractors or drivers or appropriately sized vehicles. In some areas, contractors pulled out or there were no bids received through the procurement process.
Where this has happened, students may not have a school transport service.
Where a service cannot be provided immediately, an Exceptional No Service Interim Grant is payable by the Department where a pupil on mainstream has been issued a ticket but transport is not in place at the start of the school year due to operational difficulties. The grant is based on the number of days the child attends school. Families do not need to apply; they will be contacted directly by the Department’s School Transport Section.
The Exceptional No Service Interim Grant will be made available to families retrospectively. This payment will be paid as an exceptional measure and will be calculated from the date the service was due to commence up to the date that a service in provided for affected pupils. As the payment is based on the number of days a child attends school up until the time a service has commenced, it cannot be paid in advance.
This grant is linked to ticket holders and will amount to €5 per day per family and is based on the number of days pupils attended school from 25th August 2025 until a service commenced.
School Transport officials of my department have contacted the family referred to by the Deputy, but to date the additional information required by the department has not been sent by this family referred and therefore payment cannot issue until received.
