Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 December 2020
293. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education the reason transport is not being provided for a pupil (details supplied) in view of the fact that the school they are enrolled in has been deemed the most suitable school for them in view of their needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42540/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
In the 2019/2020 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.
Children are eligible for transport where they have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability 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 school of attendance is not the nearest school to the pupil’s home that is or can be resourced to meet their special educational needs and therefore the child is not eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme.
