1247. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of on-time paid concessionary pupils who did not receive a ticket under the school transport scheme in co Leitrim for the 2025/26 school year. [61608/26]

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: buseireann.ie/schooltransport/

A closing date for applications and payments applies each year. Applications received after the advertised closing date are considered late.

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

Children who are not eligible but complete the application process on time have been considered for spare seats that are available once all eligible children are 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, each year Bus Éireann allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.

4 non-eligible pupils who paid on time did not receive a ticket under the school transport scheme for the 2025/26 school year.

All mainstream eligible pupils who applied and paid on time and where a service existed where facilitated with transport in the 2025/26 school year.