Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 October 2017
175. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the lack of school bus places being made available for children in 2017; and if the transport supports required by a person (details supplied) will be made available to the person. [43442/17]
View answerSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
During the 2016/17 school year almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.
In general, children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest recognised mainstream or special school that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs under Department of Education and Skills' criteria.
Bus Éireann has reported that the school transport service commenced on 9 October 2017.
