101. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken to improve the school transport scheme for families in rural counties such as Mayo, particularly where pupils have experienced difficulties accessing school bus services; and ask that she make a statement on the matter. [74935/26]

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

The scheme has expanded significantly over the past six years. In that time, the numbers of children and young people using the service increased by close to 50%.

In the 2025/26 school year over 181,000 children were transported daily in over 8,500 vehicles across over 11,000 routes to primary, post-primary and special schools throughout the country.

It is recognised that the School Transport Scheme is vital to families and its benefits extend to support parents and guardians who are accessing employment. It continues to support pupils living in rural and remote areas, children and young people with additional needs, as well as assisting towards national sustainability and climate goals.

The scheme is demand-led based on the number of eligible children who apply and pay on time.

As of the 29 September 2026, 6,399 pupils are travelling on mainstream services in Mayo.

Of this figure, 914 eligible and 1,075 non-eligible pupils travel to primary schools and 3,360 eligible and 1,050 non-eligible pupils travel to post primary schools.

59 families in Mayo have also availed of the Remote Area Grant for the 2025/26 school year. This grant is paid to families of children who are eligible for school transport but for whom no service is available, towards the cost of making private transport arrangements. The Remote Area Grant is also payable for eligible children who may have to travel 3.2kms or more to or from a designated pick-up point.

The School Transport 2030 report was published in early 2024 following a comprehensive analysis and review of the scheme as it currently operates. The recommended changes to the future operation of the schemes include expansion of the current eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure the best value for money to the Exchequer.

School Transport 2030 flags the intention of Government to expand access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030.  A phased implementation of the review’s recommendations began at the start of the 2024/2025 school year and is continuing for the 2026/27 school year subject to availability of resources.