Government responsibility for the School Transport Scheme should be transferred out of the Department of Education and put under the remit of the Department of Transport, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore.
Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on transport, said:
“The start of the new term has yet again been marked by significant gaps in the School Transport Scheme, which is operated by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. This has resulted in last-minute notifications to parents informing them that some services are not yet in place for their child’s route – even though these families met the eligibility criteria and had already received their tickets.
“While it is still not known how widespread this problem is, we have received reports of parents in Leitrim, Meath, Kildare, Tipperary and my own constituency of Wicklow being left in the lurch.
“As in previous years, Bus Éireann has again blamed a shortage of drivers and contractors for the current difficulties being experienced. However, given that these recurring problems should have been anticipated, is it extraordinary that no contingency plans were put in place.
“I have now lost all faith in the Department of Education’s ability to effectively manage the School Transport Scheme, which has turned into an annual fiasco. As a starting point, responsibility for the scheme should now be placed under the remit of the Department of Transport, with a full review commenced into the issues that continue to plague this essential service.”
August 25, 2025