Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 March 2022
452. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education if she will assist in providing transport to a child (details supplied) who has been assigned a place in a special educational school but cannot attend as the family does not have access to suitable transport. [16673/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
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 National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) acts in an advisory role to my Department on the suitability of placements for children with 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 school transport under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs.
In November 2021 a new service was sanctioned to cater for the child referred to by the Deputy and 3 others with an escort on board.
In cases where services are not suitable to cater for a child’s needs, a parent/guardian can make a request to the school transport section of my Department outlining the child’s requirements along with supporting documentation. In certain cases a special transport grant may be offered, and where it is not possible for the family to avail of the grant, a new service may be established.
An application for an individual service has not been received to date by the school transport section of my Department.
