School Transport

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 …

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…

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]

421. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason the age of school bus drivers cannot be extended (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32786/26]

423. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth the known number of bus escorts in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32802/26]

441. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth to clarify the policy regarding transport provision for special schools; the reason a special school in County Mayo has had to fundraise for a school bus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33062/26]

301. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth the plans that exist to upgrade and modernise the school transport family portal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31612/26]

302. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth the company contracted to operate the software behind the school transport family portal; the terms of the service agreement with the company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31613/26]

106. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the rationale for increasing the school bus fees for 2026, while simultaneously shortening the payment window, with parents now required to pay by 8 May, compared with early June last year; and the reason no instalment or phased payment system is available to support families during the ongoing cost-of-living pressures; and if she…

129. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide clarity on eligibility criteria (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31177/26]

514. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will expedite a positive response to a school transport appeal (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29572/26]

583. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth if any supports will be introduced for families due to the rise in school bus costs for the 2026/27 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30401/26]

587. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in Cork who are entitled to special school transport who do not currently have access to this transport. [30535/26]

588. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount paid out under the exceptional grant for parents of children entitled to special school transport who do not receive this transport in Cork, in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [30536/26]

631. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current criteria and decision-making process applied by her Department and by Bus Éireann when determining eligibility for school transport in case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30933/26]

8. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the expansion of the school transport service to reduce the distance criteria to recognise feeder schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29143/26]

12. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has considered the particular challenges associated with the current school transport criteria in rural areas such as County Mayo, including the local nuances associated with feeder schools and geographical distances; the measures her Department is taking to address these challenges; and if she will make a statemen…

16. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress made to date in relation to the introduction of e-ticketing as part of the school transport scheme; if there are plans to expand e-ticketing to other schools for the 2026-27 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28771/26]

17. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Youth if additional transport to school routes will be considered for Cork east; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29171/26]

48. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the school transport pilot scheme; the number of schools included in the scheme for the 2025/2026 academic year; if there are plans to expand the scheme to other schools for the upcoming academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28772/26]

62. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the progress made to date in advancing reforms to the school transport scheme, and specifically, in the removal of the nearest school criteria; whether additional pilot programmes will be undertaken in 2026/2027; how routes will be selected for any additional pilot programmes; and if she will make a statement on the…

74. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to clarify how routes are selected for inclusion in the pilot programmes being implemented under the reforms to the school transport scheme; the role Bus Éireann plays in this process; and whether County Cork routes are to be included in the next phase of the pilot programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2…

96. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current school transport funding provisions for special schools in County Mayo; if she will conduct a funding review to identify any gaps that require schools to fundraise themselves for essential services, such as school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29126/26]

107. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to increase capacity on school transport to meet demand/need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27850/26]