Written answer
School Transport
Non-eligible pupils from Swellan were denied school transport places, and the Department will not provide a double-decker, altered route or additional service.
531. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth If she will urgently review the case of persons (details supplied); if she will sanction the use of a double decker bus on the school transport route serving the Swellan area of Cavan town to St. Patrick's College and Breifne College; if she will outline when a decision on this matter can be expected. [64792/26]
Comment on this
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
Under the current terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
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 not eligible, but who apply for school transport are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; 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 family referred to by the Deputy are not eligible for school transport as they are not attending their nearest post primary centre.
The family applied and paid on time but were not successful in obtaining tickets for the 2026/27 school year. The service is operating to capacity, and the pupils cannot be accommodated at this time. Under the terms of the scheme, routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided for non-eligible children travelling.