An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-22
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Jack Chambers (FF), Dublin West

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I regret that some students in Laois have had that direct experience. As a Government, we have all supported a significant expansion in this over the last number of years. There were around 120,000 children using the service in 2019. That figure is now 181,000 in 2026. Matched with that has been an unprecedented level of funding to support the service. There was €219 million allocated in 2019 and that is due to exceed €600 million this year. As a Government, we have prioritised supporting rural school transport right across the country. This is managed on behalf of the State and Government by Bus Éireann, which co-ordinates the wider day-to-day operation of the service.
I will ask my colleagues in the Department of education to engage with the Deputy to try to resolve some of the issues that are there for some students. In the wider complexity and organisation of this, I accept there are particular issues in certain areas which raise their head every year. I will ask the Department to engage with the Deputy on it and I regret that students have had that experience.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-09-22/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:49+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-22