1456. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review a school transport application for a student (details supplied), who has travelled on the school transport service for the previous two academic years but was unsuccessful in securing a place for the 2026/2027 school year due to capacity constraints; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63139/26]

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.

The scheme is demand-led based on the number of eligible children who apply and pay on time. Families are required to register their details on the Bus Éireann Family Portal to have their eligibility for transport assessed and to make applications under the scheme.

Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to by is not eligible for transport as they are attending their 3rd nearest Post Primary Centre.

An application and payment were received on time for this pupil for the 2026/27 school year. However, they were unsuccessful in obtaining a concessionary seat for the 2026/27 school year and the existing service is currently operating to capacity.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Children who are not eligible but completed the application process on time will be considered for spare seats that are available once all eligible children are accommodated, previously known as concessionary seats.

Because of the nature of the availability of transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for non-eligible pupils. In these cases, Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.