Niamh Smyth
Question:534. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if the case regarding school transport for a student (details supplied) and their bus escort will be reviewed. [15053/24]
View answerTuesday, 9 April 2024
Questions (534)
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 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.
There has been an overall increase in both applications and tickets issued for the 2023/2024 school year in comparison to the 2022/2023 school year.
Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, a pupil with special educational needs is eligible for school transport if they are attending the 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.
Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).
There was a 30% increase in the number of special educational transport journeys from 2019 to the 2022/2023 school year.
New applications for the 2023/2024 school year will be catered for through a mix of new services (some being individual), children being accommodated on existing services where capacity exists, extensions of existing routes and grants to families.
The employment of a School Bus Escort, where required, is sanctioned by School Transport Section and the Escort is employed by the Board of Management and the Education and Training Boards in respect of schools operated by them. As the Escort is employed by the school, the terms and conditions of employment are a matter for the school as the employer.
Once a sanction for employment has been approved, School Transport Section issues funding by way of a grant to the school at the end of each school year by way of advance payment for the next school year.
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.
School Transport Section in my Department will liaise with the school regarding this matter in order to work towards a satisfactory conclusion for this pupil.