1459. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has received requests from Bus Éireann for additional capacity on the school transport route serving a school (details supplied); whether an assessment has been undertaken of demand on this route; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63136/26]

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

Since 2018, the number of students using school transport has increased by 54%, rising from almost 118,000 students in 2018 to 181,000 students in 2025.

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: https://buseireann.ie/schooltransport/

Where a child is eligible for transport and the application and payment process has been completed on time, they will get a seat on a school bus service, where a service is available.

Children who are eligible for school transport but for whom no service is available may be offered the Remote Area Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements. The Remote Area Grant is also payable for eligible children who may have to travel 3.2 kms or more to or from a designated pick up/set down point.

Where a child is not eligible for school transport, but the application and payment process has been completed on time, they will be considered for any spare seats available after eligible children have been accommodated, previously known as concessionary seats.

Because of the nature 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.

Bus Éireann has advised that the pupils residing in the area referred to by the Deputy are not eligible for school transport to their school of attendance as it is their 5th closest school. However, eligibility depends on where each pupil resides.

There are currently 2 mainstream routes operating to the school in question, transporting 90 pupils on a daily basis. 2 pupils who are not eligible for transport were unsuccessful in receiving tickets for the 2026/27 school year.