Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:121. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education the reason that a request for school transport for a child (details supplied) was refused; and if she will reconsider same. [36338/22]
View answerWednesday, 6 July 2022
Questions (121)
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 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. The cost in 2021 was over €289m.
Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for transport where they are attending the nearest recognised school that is or can be resourced to meet their special educational needs.
The National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) acts in an advisory role to my Department on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs
School Transport Section of my Department has not received an application for school transport for the child referred to by the Deputy.
The family should contact their school principal who will contact the school’s SENO about applying for school transport.
Further information in relation to school transport is available at: www.gov.ie/en/service/school-transport/