Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 October 2022
397. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that a child (details supplied) will be provided with school transport; if she will review the circumstances of this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49752/22]
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.
The purpose of my 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 acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.
I am pleased to advise that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is eligible under the terms of the scheme and a sanction has been sent by School Transport Section of my Department to Bus Éireann for the establishment of a new service for the pupil to the school referred to by the Deputy.
Bus Éireann have tendered this service in line with procurement guidelines and no bids have been received from contractors to operate this service. Bus Éireann are still in the process of sourcing a contractor to operate this service, once a contractor has been allocated, the service will commence.
Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs. Families of children who are eligible for these services may therefore apply for the Special Transport Grant, which is a once off payment, paid retrospectively to families once the school transport service is in place and is to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements the family had put in place until services are finalised. The family of the child referred should contact School Transport Section at: school_transport@education.gov.ie for more information on this grant.
