Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 November 2020
270. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education the reason incorrect information was provided in response to Parliamentary Question No. 79 of 4 November 2020, in view of the fact that this payment has not been made to date in this case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39376/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool 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 Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
The child referred to by the Deputy is in receipt of a Special Transport Grant under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs. School Transport Section had processed the payment for the family in question as outlined previously. However due to an error, details relating to the payment were not picked up by the Department's financial system. This error has now been rectified and the payment will be processed in the coming days.
