Michael McNamara
Ceist:530. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education when a decision will issue to persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21796/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 8 September 2020
Ceisteanna (530)
Freagraí scríofa
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.
The purpose of the “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.
School transport services are operated by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education & Skills. Children are eligible for transport where they have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability in accordance with the Department’s criteria and 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. Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).
In this case, it has been reported that the required professional report(s) submitted for the child do not meet the Department of Education and Skills criteria for attending the relevant setting and the child in this case is therefore not deemed eligible for school transport to the school referred to by the Deputy under the terms of the scheme.