The Department insists no routes have been "cancelled" and says efforts are underway to restore services.
Some local families left without school buses will only get €5 a day - and they’ll have to wait, because the money will be paid retrospectively.
The Department of Education says the grant will be backdated to 25 August, but only once a replacement service is in place, and only for the days children actually attended school.
Families will not receive the cash up front.
The payment comes after some bus routes failed to start this term, despite tickets being issued.
Bus Éireann blames a shortage of drivers, contractors and suitable vehicles, with some operators pulling out or no bids received during procurement.
The Department insists no routes have been "cancelled" and says efforts are underway to restore services.
In a statement to Kfm, a spokesperson for the Department of Education said the 'Exceptional No Service Interim Grant' will be made available to families "retrospectively".
"This payment will be paid as an exceptional measure and will be calculated from the date the service was due to commence up to the date that a service is provided for affected pupils," the spokesperson said.
They added: "As the payment is based on the number of days a child attends school up until the time a service has commenced, it cannot be paid in advance. This grant is linked to ticket holders and will amount to €5 per day per family and is based on the number of days pupils attended school from 25th August 2025 until a service commenced. Department officials will contact families directly in relation to this grant."
They also said the issue is with Bus Eireann.
"Bus Éireann is working to find replacements. Affected families have been contacted and will get updates," the spokesperson said.
Up to 30 families in Ballitore have been told by Bus Éireann that no bus or driver is available to bring children to St Laurence’s NS in Crookstown.
Meanwhile, a Clane mother says her child has been left standing in the rain waiting for a school bus that doesn’t appear to exist.
But when term began this week, no bus turned up.
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