UPDATED: Bus Éireann ‘must provide clarity’ on school bus routes in Kildare for ‘worried’ parents

Public transport company Bus Éireann has been urged to "provide clarity" on school bus routes in County Kildare for "worried" parents.

The call was made today (September 3) Kildare South and Labour Party TD Mark Wall, who claimed that his office "has been inundated with queries" on the issue over the past number of weeks.

Deputy Wall's comments follow after it was announced earlier today that children aged from five to eight years of age will now be eligible for free travel on all Transport for Ireland (TFI) services.

He claimed that there are several "worried parents who are still waiting for their child’s school bus route to be set up, despite tickets already being issued in many cases".

Deputy Wall also alleged: "What is even worse is the haphazard way Bus Éireann has handled the situation; they sent out an email a few days before the school term was due to begin informing parents that a school bus operator had yet to be found for their child’s route.

"Additional information over the last few days provided by my office by Bus Éireann has been inadequate and lacks any clarity on whether these routes will be operational."

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He continued: "I am calling on Bus Éireann to urgently provide clarity to parents on a number of school bus routes, including St Paul’s Secondary School (B5220), Gael Cholaiste Chill Dara (B5288), Coláiste Lorcáin / Scoil Diarmada (B8210/B9101), Dunlavin / Ballitore (B8232/B9126), Caragh to NCC (B5259) and Kilmeague (B5067).

"I also believe that Bus Éireann needs to come before the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth to discuss the current state of the school transport system in Ireland."

Deputy Wall further said: "There is also an ongoing crisis for Kildare town and Newbridge students going to the Curragh primary and secondary schools.

"These students are unable to attend their nearest school due to them being full, and so have no other choice but to attend a school outside of their local area. Despite this, Bus Éireann refuses to accommodate these students with a school bus."

He concluded: "The Department of Education and Minister Michael Moynihan, who has responsibility for school transport, needs to step in here and given the exceptional circumstances these families find themselves in and provide a school bus service for Kildare town and Newbridge students."

The Department of Education and Bus Éireann have both been asked for comment in relation to Deputy Wall's appeal.

Deputy Wall also made headlines yesterday (September 2 last) when he shared an update from Uisce Éireann relating to night works which are planned for a region within Newbridge.

UPDATE —  September 5, 2025, 3.10pm approx —A spokeperson for Bus Éireann responded to the Leader's query with the following statement: 

"Bus Éireann operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. The purpose of the scheme is to provide transport for children living remotely from their nearest school.

"Bus Éireann has issued over 145,000 tickets to date to mainstream services for 2025 / 26 school year, an increase of just under five per cent of tickets issued compared to last year.

"The scheme operates in excess of 8,200 vehicles daily on over 10,600 routes."

The spokesperson continued: "The situation is evolving on a daily basis; Our local school transport office is trying to prioritise sourcing replacement cover for these routes.

"As soon as a vehicle and driver has been sourced, and vehicle and driver compliance checks completed the families will be contacted directly in relation to the re-commencement of their service.

"Please note that the service is not cancelled and all tickets issued remain valid for travel; where a service is not in place for the start of a new school year, an interim grant is available.

They concluded: "Families do not need to make an application; the Department of Education and Youth will be contacting families directly."

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