711. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education for the number of primary and secondary school students who have received an Irish exemption each year for the past five years; the number in each category of grounds for qualification for an exemption, for all schools across the State, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12060/25]
Topics / School Transport
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsSchool Transport
1,013 questions from 118 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 22 October 2026.
1,013
questions
1,006 written, 7 oral
118
TDs have asked
11
parties and groups
Independents counted together
5
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 16 |
| February 2025 | 35 |
| March 2025 | 48 |
| April 2025 | 78 |
| May 2025 | 44 |
| June 2025 | 36 |
| July 2025 | 66 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 153 |
| October 2025 | 34 |
| November 2025 | 53 |
| December 2025 | 22 |
| January 2026 | 47 |
| February 2026 | 37 |
| March 2026 | 38 |
| April 2026 | 45 |
| May 2026 | 41 |
| June 2026 | 37 |
| July 2026 | 54 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 68 |
| October 2026 | 61 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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64
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53
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41
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29
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27
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27
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24
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24
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
712. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that many secondary schools are actively encouraging some parents of primary school students preparing to start second level education to apply for a Gaeilge exemption so that they may receive other educational supports during Gaeilge teaching time; that this has become a standard practise for secondary schools who are under resource…
717. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Education if she will urgently review the mandatory retirement age of 70 for Bus Éireann drivers, given the serious shortage of school bus drivers; if she will consider allowing medically fit and capable drivers to continue working beyond this age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12106/25]
725. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Education when her Department intends to implement the proposed reduction in the distance eligibility criterion for post-primary students under the school transport scheme from 4.8 km to 2 km; if she will provide details on the planned timeline and any associated budgetary or operational considerations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12291/25]
761. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Education for an update on plans to reform the school transport system, particularly the eligibility criteria and likely timeframe for the implementation of changes. [12639/25]
78. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education if, following his work on securing a school bus (details supplied), he will commit to securing an increased service due to the rising number of students attending this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9940/25]
280. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if a review into the restriction on drivers aged over 70 from operating school transport is planned; if he has engaged with Bus Éireann in relation to easing this restriction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9714/25]
381. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the findings of the establishment of the pilot scheme from the school transport scheme review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9378/25]
382. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education if her Department will consider the abolishment of the ‘nearest school’ rule ahead of the 2025/26 school year; if her Department will consider the ‘central/closed school’ rule which allows busses to pick up children within their parish boundary rather than ‘nearest school’; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9379/25]
392. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if a review can be conducted and an update provided on the case of a person seeking a school bus place (details supplied). [9542/25]
405. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education the number of school-going children, primary and post primary, residing in south Kilkenny who currently avail of the school transport scheme; the number waiting to be offered a place on the school transport system; the numbers refused places on the school transport system for the school year 2024-2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [97…
406. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education the reason school-going children in south Kilkenny, who attend school in New Ross, are not informed until the end of August whether they have been approved for the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9770/25]
18. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education if she will consider examining a joint scheme with the Minister for Transport for safety works outside of schools, to make them safe, to lessen the over-reliance on the local authorities in this regard and to be more proactive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5539/25]
39. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the school transport scheme in County Mayo; if the service from Derryfadda and Boleyglass to Crossmolina, which operated until 2021, will be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8616/25]
45. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education if she intends to introduce changes to the school transport scheme in advance of the next school year. [5749/25]
52. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education the measures to improve access to school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8534/25]
59. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education for an update on her Department's report "School Transport 2030"; the number of pilot bus schemes now in operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8131/25]
81. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Education if she will authorise a school bus service for children in the Rathcore area of County Meath attending second level schools in Trim, in accordance with the recommendations of the school bus review published last year. [8602/25]
243. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education the status of the planned phasing out of the nearest school rule for the school transport scheme; the timeline for the abolishment of the rule; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8845/25]
127. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education if she will provide information on the inactive bus transport service in Tubbercurry, County Sligo, which benefitted school students (details supplied); if the service can be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8224/25]
128. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education if she will review a decision made against the provision of school transport to a school (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8225/25]
382. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education the concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the lack of sufficient school bus stops in Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8090/25]
411. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that pupils attending a school (details supplied) living in Naul and Swords cannot access school transport, and that Bus Éireann has exhausted all options for these pupils and they still have no school transport; if she has any plans to provide this additional route; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7565/25]
417. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education if there is remit in the school bus transport scheme to consider Educate Together schools as a form of ethos; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7624/25]
419. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education if her Department provides transportation funding for children with special education needs who have to travel to attend an early years education setting appropriate for their needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7629/25]