Bus Éireann and the Department of Education must immediately outline how many pupils will be affected by the last-minute cancellation of bus services due to operate next week under the School Transport Scheme, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore.
Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on transport, said:
“With only days to go before the start of the new term, it is completely unacceptable that parents – including in my own Wicklow constituency – have just received emails from Bus Éireann to say no transport arrangements are yet in place for their child’s school route next week.
“This is despite the fact that these children were eligible to apply for the School Transport Scheme and had already been issued with tickets.
“According to Bus Éireann, which operates the scheme on behalf of the Department of Education, difficulties have arisen on a number of routes due to the lack of an available driver or contractor. In some cases, the company said zero bids were received for a service, despite repeated efforts to procure one.
“This is a problem that occurs every year and it is disgraceful that families are yet again being left high and dry. As a result of receiving such late notice, parents will be scrambling to make alternative arrangements for getting their children to and from school next week.
“Ultimately, we need to see the rollout of a nationwide school bus programme so that every student who needs transport can get it. This would ease cost-of-living pressures on families and help us meet our climate action targets by reducing the number of cars on our roads.
“For now, however, we need clarity from Bus Éireann and the Department of Education on which routes have been impacted, the number of students affected, and a realistic timescale for resolution.”
August 22, 2025