Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
893. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if she has had any engagement with the Minister for Transport and-or the National Transport Authority, Bus Éireann or Dublin Bus to seek the transfer of low-floor wheelchair accessible single-decker and double-decker public service obligation fleet to the school transport fleet; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43110/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 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 €289m in 2021. Over 90% of vehicles used to provide transport under the School Transport Scheme are supplied by contractors.
The purpose of the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the scheme 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 unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs.
The Department engages with the Department of Transport and the National Transport Authority on the optimum PSO cascade arrangements available to the School Transport Scheme.
The Department engages with the Department of Transport and the National Transport Authority in relation to the availability of future cascades, however, many of the rural bus stops used for school transport services lack suitable infrastructure for the operation of accessible vehicles.
