Bernard Durkan
Question:394. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if school transport can be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35574/23]
View answerThursday, 13 July 2023
Questions (394)
Written answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, over 149,000 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.
There has been an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the current 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
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 primary or post primary school that is or can be resourced to meet their special educational needs.
Special Schools funded by the Department are intended to cater for children and young persons with special educational needs from 4 years until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year. At that point, the Department of Health/Health Service Executive assumes direct responsibility for young adults with special educational needs who are over 18 years.
Accordingly, the details referred to by the Deputy in this case is outside of the remit of the School Transport Schemes.