Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 March 2018
119. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a school (details supplied) raising funds at a greyhound track to cover the cost of a school bus; his views on whether it is appropriate that schools have to fund raise for basic transport needs in view of the fact that more funding is made available for greyhound racing than for transport; and if funding will be ensured to replace the school bus. [10859/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently over 115,000 children, including almost 12,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 4,500 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability.
Under the terms of this scheme children who are eligible for school transport are provided with a dedicated school transport service or they may be availing of a special transport grant to cover the cost of private transport arrangements.
The full terms of the Scheme are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.
The bus referred to by the Deputy is not operating under the terms of the above scheme.
The Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school and is therefore responsible for making decisions as to the types of activities in which the school gets involved. It is a matter for each individual school to determine the nature of any fundraising activities that they become involved in.
