Seán Sherlock
Question:175. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education if approval has been given for a driver escort for a child (details supplied). [47389/22]
View answerWednesday, 28 September 2022
Questions (175)
Written answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 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 €289m in 2021.
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.
In relation to the pupil referred to by the Deputy, School Transport Section have sanctioned the establishment of a new transport service to cater for this pupil and one other with Bus Éireann. School Transport Section have also sanctioned funding for an escort on-board this service to the School Principal. I am pleased to advise that an escort has been appointed and the pupil can commence on the service on 28th September.