Seán Sherlock
Question:994. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the status of a school transport grant for a child (details supplied). [19065/21]
View answerWednesday, 21 April 2021
Questions (994)
Written answers
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.
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 above scheme. The pupil was sanctioned to a bus service in April 2014. An additional pupil was sanctioned to the same service for the 2020/21 School year. A larger vehicle to accommodate both pupils and a Bus Escort was sanctioned by School Transport Section in November 2020. This larger vehicle commenced operation on 1st March 2021.
A Statement of Attendance claiming the Special Transport Grant for this pupil was returned to the school in February 2021, explaining the pupil is sanctioned to a Bus Service and does not avail of the Special Transport Grant. However as the larger service was not in operation until 1st March 2021, School Transport Section will now liaise with the parent directly with regard to the claim for the Special Transport Grant for that period.