Niamh Smyth
Question:311. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education the reason the journey time of a person (details supplied) to school is taking so long; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49882/21]
View answerTuesday, 12 October 2021
Questions (311)
Written answers
The 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).
Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes and endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy resides 34.4 km from home to school and is currently availing of transport on an existing SEN service.
School Transport Section of my Department will liaise further with Bus Éireann in relation to the travel times for the pupil to which the Deputy refers with a view to ensuring that a reasonable level of service is provided. Bus Éireann will be in contact directly with the family in this regard.