Paul McAuliffe
Question:40. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education if she can assist with an urgent request in respect of school transport (details supplied). [9428/24]
View answerWednesday, 28 February 2024
Questions (40)
Written answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
The National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education 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.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupils referred to by the Deputy have been deemed eligible for school transport under the above scheme. One of the pupils in question is currently travelling on a service. The second pupil in question has been assigned to a service however a school bus escort has not been appointed to the service.
The appointment of a school bus escort is the responsibility of the school who have advised that they are in the final stages of the recruitment process which includes Garda Vetting through the National Vetting Bureau.