Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2021
544. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if officials from her Department will make contact with a parent of a child (details supplied) with complex learning needs who is currently spending over €500 a week on taxis to attend a special needs class and discuss the alternative transport provision that can be made. [50432/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/2021 school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.
The purpose of the 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.
In general, children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest school that is resourced to meet their special educational needs. Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).
The child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for transport under the terms of the above scheme. My Department has sanctioned a new service to cater for this pupil's transport to school and Bus Éireann are currently at the procurement stage of setting up a service. Bus Éireann will contact the family directly when the service has been set up. The family has been contacted by School Transport Section and informed that a Special Transport Grant is available until the transport service commences.
