Parents have been warned that disruption to school bus services is likely when schools reopen on Monday, as fuel protests continue with 600 filling stations running dry across Ireland.
18:19, 11 Apr 2026Updated 18:19, 11 Apr 2026
The arm of a crossing guard(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Parents across Ireland have been put on notice that school bus services face “likely” disruption when pupils return to class on Monday, as fuel protests continue to cause widespread travel chaos throughout the country.
The alert follows days of significant nationwide unrest, with demonstrators blocking major routes, shutting down motorways and restricting access to fuel depots. As of this morning, roughly 600 of Ireland’s 1,500 petrol stations have run out of fuel, heightening fears over further knock-on effects as children prepare to return to school after the Easter break.
The protests erupted earlier this week during the school holidays, but with demonstrators pledging to press on with their action, anxiety is mounting over how pupils will make it to school come Monday.
The National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG), which convened on Friday evening, warned that the situation is creating “major disruption for the public” and poses a serious threat to supply chains, essential services and public transport.
Bus Éireann has confirmed that school transport services are due to operate as normal on Monday, but cautioned that continued road blockages and fuel shortages could result in delays and disruption across certain areas, reports the Irish Mirror.
In an official 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.”
Notwithstanding the ongoing disruption, there are currently no plans to extend school closures beyond the Easter break. The Irish Mirror has reached out to The Department of Education for further clarification.
Labour MEP Aodhan O Riordain described it as “unconscionable” that education could be impacted by the continuing protests.
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)
Taking to Facebook, he wrote: “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.” Discussions between Government departments and representative bodies resumed at lunchtime today, aimed at finalising what Tánaiste Simon Harris described as “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 a resolution would be reached by this evening.
Speaking ahead of 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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