Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 December 2022
356. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Education if she will review the case of two children (details supplied) with extenuating circumstances who have yet to receive an update with regard to getting school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61833/22]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the previous 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.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
The National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education and Skills 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. I am pleased to advise one of the siblings referred to by the Deputy is eligible under the terms School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs and a sanction has been sent by School Transport Section of my Department to Bus Éireann for the establishment of a new service. . Bus Éireann has tendered this service in line with procurement guidelines and is in the process of allocating a contractor to operate this service. Once a contractor has been sourced, the service will commence. Bus Éireann will liaise with families directly with regard to this matter at that stage.
Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs. Families of children who are eligible for these services may therefore apply for the Special Transport Grant which is a once off payment, paid retrospectively to families once the School Transport service is in place and is to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements the family had put in place until services are finalised. The family referred have been sent correspondence with regard to the grant details.
Bus Éireann has advised that the second child referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for school transport under the terms of the school transport scheme and an application was made on 2nd November 2022. The pupil was unsuccessful in obtaining a seat on board a school transport service for the 2022/23 school year as the existing service is operating to capacity.
