Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 July 2021
75. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education if assistance will be given to a person (details supplied) to obtain a post-primary free school travel pass who suffers from multiple medical conditions and who was issued the incorrect pass; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36614/21]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
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 my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Under the terms of my Departments School Transport Post Primary Scheme, children are eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria 4.8km and are attending their nearest school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Bus Éireann has advised that the child referred to by the Deputy is eligible to their school of attendance and following payment for the 2021/22 school year, if not already done so, a ticket will issue on a scheduled service.
Under the terms of my Department’s School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for school transport where they have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability and are attending the nearest recognised school/class 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.
A parent/guardian should contact the school principal of the school that their child is attending who will assist in making an application for school transport to the SENO that is affiliated with their school.
Alternatively, special transport arrangements on medical grounds may be considered by the Department where a pupil has a medical condition, and the condition is such that it would prevent the child from making his/her own way to the school, or the pick-up point, as appropriate. Where such applications are made, the Department requests that the pupil's GP complete an Application for School Transport on Medical Grounds, which outlines the nature and severity of the medical condition. The form is then forwarded to the Medical Advisor, who, on the basis of the medical evidence submitted, determines whether the above conditions apply. This form is available on my Department’s website at www.education.ie
School Transport Section of my Department has issued guidance directly to the family on how to make an application for school transport on medical grounds.
