Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
636. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of difficulties experienced by an organisation (details supplied) in County Cork in recruiting transport chaperones/escorts for children with disabilities to attend their day care services; what measures are being taken to address these recruitment issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15554/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, over 147,900 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 3,800 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
There is a facility within the Special Needs Transport Scheme for the appointment of a school bus escort where a child’s care and safety needs while on school transport are such to require the support of an escort. The appointment of the bus escort, where required, is sanctioned by the Department of Education. The school management authority employs the bus escort and the terms and conditions of employment are a matter for the school management authority as the employer.
The Department of Education provide funding in advance of the school year to the school’s management authority for the employment of a school bus escort.
Where a service cannot operate, due to lack of driver or bus escort availability, families of children who are eligible for school transport for children with special educational needs may 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 have put in place until services is finalised.
Families can contact School Transport Section directly at school_transport@education.gov.ie, where officials in my Department will be happy to assist with any queries.
