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School Transport

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 November 2020

Wednesday, 4 November 2020

Questions (79)

Michael Ring

Question:

79. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education when a special transport grant for the academic year 2019-2020 will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in view of the fact that the payment is overdue by many months and the delay is causing hardship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34029/20]

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Written answers

School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

In the 2019/2020 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were 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 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).

The child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs and the family has been approved to avail of a special Transport Grant for the child. The payment of this grant for the 2019/20 school year has now been approved and will be processed in the coming days.

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