Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
505. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Education when school transport for children with special educational needs will be reinstated for a student (details supplied) currently attending a school who has had no transport supports for the past seven weeks and who is not attending school as a direct result of having no transport supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56704/23]
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 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils traveling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.
Under the current terms of the scheme, a pupil with special educational needs is eligible for school transport if they are attending their nearest recognised mainstream school, special class, special school or unit, that is or can be resourced to meet the child's special educational needs under Department of Education criteria.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs. When considering applications for school transport in respect of pupils with special educational needs the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO).
I am pleased to advise that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is eligible under the terms of the scheme and Bus Éireann is continuing to try and ensure transport arrangements can be sourced and put in place as soon as possible. The family will be contacted directly once a contractor and vehicle have been sourced for this route.
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 of the child referred will be contacted directly by School Transport Section of my Department with an offer of the Special Transport Grant until the transport service commences.
