Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020
399. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if school transport for three pupils attending the ASD unit at a school (details supplied) will be approved immediately; and the reason for the delay. [23424/20]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. The purpose of the Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability.
In general, children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest school that is resourced to meet their special educational needs. Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).
In the current school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, are transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.
The service to cater for the three pupils referred to by the Deputy commenced on the 14th September 2020.
