Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1038. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will address the concerns raised by the parents (details supplied) of a young child with an ASD diagnosis; the assistance that her Department can offer this family to alleviate their concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39678/22]
View answerSchool 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 acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO).
School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.
The pupil referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of the above scheme and the pupil is currently assigned to a transport service to their school of attendance.
A request for an alternative drop off point was received for this pupil in September 2021. In general, transport for children with special needs is provided from home to school and from school to home. The provision of school transport to and from childminders is not a feature of the scheme. Requests for transport to/from alternative addresses will only be considered having due regard for safety of all pupils and where there is no deviation from an existing route, no other child has been inconvenienced or additional cost to the State is involved.
Bus Éireann who operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of the Department has advised due to the additional mileage and cost involved, the request cannot be facilitated under the terms of the scheme to the alternative address.
