The number of children travelling on the school transport scheme this year has reached a record high of 172,000 pupils.

New statistics released by the Department of Education have revealed that the number of children on the scheme is up by 6 per cent on the 163,800 total in the previous 2023/2024 school year.

In the current 2024/2025 school year, there are 172,000 children travelling daily in approximately 7,900 vehicles across 10,300 routes to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country each day.

These daily trips cover over 100 million kilometres, which is the equivalent of nearly 2,500 journeys around the world.

The children being transported on the scheme includes over 143,700 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 21,500 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

Minister for Education Norma Foley said:

“I’m delighted to see the increasing number of children availing of the School Transport scheme because I know how important it is. It allows children to reach school safely, frees up parents to go directly to work and reduces traffic on the roads.


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