Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 October 2021
248. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if she will consider raising the amount paid to parents for the special school transport grant in view of the rising cost of fuel and insurance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49151/21]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/2021 school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, were 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).
A Special Transport Grant (STG) towards the cost of private transport arrangements may be provided to families of eligible children in situations where:
- Bus Éireann is not in a position to provide a transport service
- a child's age, behavioural difficulties or medical needs are such as to make the provision of a transport service impracticable;
- an escort is considered necessary and the provision of such support is not feasible;
the cost of establishing/maintaining a service is considered prohibitive.
The rate of grant payable is calculated at 39.12 cent per kilometre from home to school for the first 6,437 kilometres and 21.22 cent per kilometre thereafter. Payment is based on the number of days that the families provided transport for their children.
There are no plans currently to increase the rate of payment for the STG.
The Deputy may be aware that my Department commenced a review of the School Transport Scheme in February 2021. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and sustainability, and to ensure that it serves students and their families adequately.
Wider considerations relating to operation of the scheme are taking place in the current phase of the review which is now underway. The Steering Group will continue to report to me on an interim basis as the review progresses, with a view to presenting a final report with recommendations on the future operation of the Department’s School Transport Scheme.
