School Transport
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-14
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Michael Moynihan (FF), Cork North-West

I might address the issue, which was in relation to the increased capacity, specifically for County Limerick. Unfortunately, the Senator did not give me the exact details in relation to Cappagh or Rathkeale so I do not have the specific details to hand.
The school transport system is a huge operation that is managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. The scheme has expanded significantly over the past six years. It is recognised that the school transport system is a vital support for families and its benefits extend to supporting parents and guardians who are accessing employment. It continues to support pupils living in rural and remote areas and children and young people with additional needs, as well as national sustainability and climate goals.
The scheme is demand-led and on the number of eligible children who apply and pay on time. Families are required to register their details on the Bus Éireann portal to have their eligibility for school transport assessed to make applications under the scheme. The portal for the 2026-27 school year closed on 8 May to allow Bus Éireann to plan and assign routes for the upcoming school year. The portal reopened on 3 July but any applications and payments made after this date will deemed late and will not be assessed until all on-time applications have been processed.
Since the portal closed, Bus Éireann has been assessing all the applications and planning routes and services for the 2026-27 school year. Routes may alter or extend depending on the number and location of children who will be availing of school transport for the year. The tickets have now begun to issue to families and will continue to issue throughout the summer. Where pupils are unsuccessful in receiving tickets, they will be notified as early as possible and a refund will issue from Bus Éireann. Under the terms of the Department's school transport scheme for children with special educational needs, children are eligible for transport where they are attending their nearest recognised school that is or can be resourced to meet the child's needs.
On the overall scheme, school transport, as the Senator rightly pointed out in her opening remarks, is a hugely valued support for families. The availability of the school ticket or bus seat is hugely important and I know from many years as a public representative the importance of this issue. I also know, since taking up this role, the importance that schools, school communities and families place on the expanding school system.
We have been expanding it over recent years. In County Limerick alone, it has expanded from 6,200 in 2023 to 7,500 who were issued tickets last year. It has continued to expand. There are various rules and regulations governing it. We are trying to ensure we are providing transport at primary and post-primary levels, in the first instance, that is near schools. I do take the point around communities, depending on where they are at. It is always a crunch point when communities see the school that might not be the nearest as their natural hinterland or school. There is some recognition of that but, under the terms and conditions, the scheme is very clear in regard to how we are trying to ensure that we have transport across the country.
The Senator raised the issue and I will gladly take it up to see if we can get clarification for her on it. I might address some of the other points in my closing remarks.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-14/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:52:15+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-14