Parents across Ireland have been warned that school bus disruption is likely when schools reopen after the Easter holidays on Monday due to ongoing fuel protests and shortages.
13:52, 11 Apr 2026Updated 15:40, 11 Apr 2026
Concerns are growing about how students will get to school on Monday (file photo)(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Parents across Ireland have been warned that disruption to school bus services is “likely” when schools reopen on Monday. It comes as fuel protests continue to impact travel nationwide.
The warning comes after days of nationwide disruption, with protesters blocking key routes, shutting down motorways and restricting access to fuel depots. As of this morning, about 600 of the 1,500 filling stations around Ireland have run dry – raising concerns about further knock on effects when pupils return to classrooms following the Easter break.
The protests began earlier this week while schools were closed, but with demonstrators vowing to continue their action, concerns are growing about how students will get to school on Monday.
The National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG), which met on Friday evening, said the situation is causing “major disruption for the public” and poses a threat to supply chains, essential services and public transport.
Bus Eireann has confirmed that school transport services are scheduled to resume as normal on Monday, however it warned that ongoing road blockages and fuel supply issues could lead to delays and disruption in some areas.
In a statement, the NECG said: “Bus Eireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth, has confirmed that school transport services are due to resume on Monday, 13 April, after the Easter holiday period.
“Bus Eireann is liaising with contractors through local school transport offices to ensure that any disruption to school transport services is limited and localised.
“Parents are advised that if blockades continue to impact on road access in some parts of the country and challenges continue with fuel distribution, there are likely to be delays and potential service disruption experienced to some services.
“Bus Eireann will endeavour to advise families of any disruption to services as soon as such information is made available. The public are advised to plan their journey before travelling and allow extra travel time.”
Despite the disruption, there are currently no plans to extend school closures beyond the Easter holidays. The Irish Mirror has contacted The Department of Education for further guidance.
People with their luggage walk past the heavy traffic on Dublin’s M50 Northbound, due to vehicles taking part on the third day of a National Fuel Protest against rising fuel prices. (Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)
Labour MEP Aodhan O Riordain said it would be “unconscionable” if education was affected by the ongoing protests
Writing on Facebook, he said: “Protests have to end now. Schools are back on Monday and it’s unconscionable that children would have their education affected by an ongoing blockading action.
“There comes a point in every dispute where the conversation turns from the topic to the tactics. The protests are on the verge of making life very difficult for the gardai. Protests must end. Govt must act to support families and workers.”
Talks between Government departments and representative bodies reopened at lunchtime today, with a view to finalising what Tanaiste Simon Harris said would be “substantial and significant” measures for affected industries.
The president of the Irish Road Haulage Association, which is not organising the protests, said he was “hopeful” that there would be a resolution by this evening
Speaking before a meeting at the Department of Transport, Ger Hyland said: “Certainly nobody is going to get everything what we want – we put a raft of proposals to Government last Wednesday. That’s what we’re coming in to negotiate on today. We’re coming in with an open mind, there’s no red lines.”
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