Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021
782. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if a person (details supplied) can be provided with information on the outcome of their appeal for their child to be provided with school transport. [31322/21]
View answerSchool 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 Special Educational Needs Officer for the area, has confirmed that the pupil the Deputy refers to is not eligible for transport under the terms of the scheme as they are not attending their closest school. The pupil attends a mainstream class in their school of attendance which is not the closest school that is resourced to meet the pupil's special educational needs.
