Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
461. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) is unable to access school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32432/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently over 116,000 children, including over 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 at a total cost of almost €190 million in 2017.
Under the terms of my Department’s School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for school transport where they are attending the nearest recognised: mainstream school, special class/special school or a unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs.
The National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers acts in an advisory role to my Department on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs.
The School Transport Section of my Department received an application for special education needs school transport for the child in question on 3rd July 2018 for the 2018/19 school year.
Bus Éireann has been requested to provide a report on the availability of transport for the 2018/19 school year and the family will be contacted when this report is received.
The terms of the School Transport Schemes are applied equitably on a national basis.
