Questions

566. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the ongoing inequality of access to education for children living on Inishbofin island; if her Department will review the current transport arrangements and education supports for island children and ensure they provide genuine equality of access in practice; if she will ensure that existing supports adequately r…

585. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Education and Youth to review an application (details supplied) for school transport. [39532/26]

630. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason for limiting the recent extension of the upper age limit for drivers operating under the school transport scheme to certain categories of drivers only; if consideration has been given to extending similar arrangements to drivers working with community and disability transport providers supporting school transport services, including orga…

251. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if schemes exist to cover taxi services to preschools for children with additional needs; the way in which parents can access this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38492/26]

472. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth in conjunction with the Minister for Transport, if she recognises that expanding school transport provision for a school (details supplied) would significantly reduce traffic volumes at the school gate; and whether this aligns with Safe Routes to School, Road Safety Strategy and Green Schools objectives promoting reduced car dependency at schools. [3…

504. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether a school transport ticket can be processed (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37137/26]

521. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a new bus route will be considered (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37343/26]

522. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to urgently intervene in a case (details supplied) and allow for school transport to be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37348/26]

533. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the case of school transport in an area will be addressed (details supplied) and allow for school transport in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37590/26]

538. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to urgently address a matter (details supplied) and allow for school transport in the case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37667/26]

568. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school transport route is being considered for students attending a school from surrounding areas (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37928/26]

93. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Youth in light of ongoing concerns about school transport access, to provide a county-by-county breakdown for 2025 of the number of primary and post-primary pupils unable to secure school transport; the number of concessionary tickets issued; the number of children in IPAS accommodation provided with school transport; the number of vacant seats on services…

578. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of applications her Department has received for the school transport scheme from County Meath as of Tuesday 5 May 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34408/26]

586. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on applications under the Bus Éireann school transport scheme for pupils attending a school (details supplied); to confirm whether the Department has assessed supporting documentation, confirming that places were unavailable when these pupils sought enrolment; to clarify whether, where ten or more pupils are deemed eligible, co…

340. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm whether a designated email account (details supplied) remains active and monitored for correspondence from public representatives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32164/26]

341. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the average response time for correspondence received through the designated email account (details supplied) in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026. [32165/26]

342. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of emails received through the designated email account (details supplied) in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026 remained unanswered after ten working days and after 20 working days. [32166/26]

343. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether Bus Éireann issues an automatic acknowledgement for emails received through the designated email account (details supplied); and if not, the reason. [32167/26]

344. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she accepts that repeated non-response to correspondence from public representatives through the designated email account (details supplied) undermines public accountability and delays resolution of public transport issues for constituents; and the steps being taken to address this matter. [32168/26]

387. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department is considering any solutions to help reduce the impact of driver and vehicle changes on sanctioned school transport routes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32406/26]

390. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of a request submitted on behalf of a school (details supplied) seeking the establishment of a dedicated school transport route from Ballyhaunis; whether this request has been assessed by her Department or Bus Éireann; and if she will outline the current status of this request. [32428/26]

391. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether pupils attending a school (details supplied) who reside in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, are considered eligible for school transport under the school transport scheme where their nearest school was unable to offer places due to capacity constraints, as confirmed in writing by the local school; and the way in which such cases are assessed. [32429…

392. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeframe within which a decision is made to establish a new school transport route where a cohort of pupils - currently 14 - have applied; and whether arrangements can be put in place, in advance of the upcoming academic year in September, given the clear and ongoing need for safe and reliable transport. [32430/26]

411. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the provision that exists under the school transport scheme for children who have not secured a school place, including a special class or special school placement, by the closing date of the school transport application portal on 8 May; whether such children will retain eligibility for school transport once a place is subsequently allocated after tha…

420. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason bus companies were asked to submit BAFO's when they were the only operator for a route; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32785/26]