Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2022
400. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education the action that is being taken to address the current delays in the provision of SEN school transport in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53281/22]
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, 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 Department is very conscious of the specialised nature of transport provision for children with special educational needs and this is reflected in the approach that is taken in the provision of transport services. The National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education and Skills 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.
Where there is no service in place, a new service is sanctioned, this means a procurement / vetting process is required while in many instances the school is also sanctioned to employ a transport escort, and this necessarily takes time to put in place. By accepting applications year-round, the Department can ensure that children with special educational needs receive the transport they require.
To ensure the efficient delivery of services for children on Special Educations Needs school transport, Bus Éireann assesses each application to assess the options available. Where children can be facilitated on an existing service, applications are processed immediately, and arrangements put in place with families involved.
In circumstances where there is no existing suitable service available to meet a child's needs, my department may offer a Special Transport Grant (STG) towards the cost of private transport arrangements until a suitable service becomes available.
Bus Éireann communicate with families where transport has been sanctioned, if there are delays in establishing a service, they will advise them as such and advise that they can apply for a Special Transport Grant to the Department of Education. The grant will be payable retrospectively for the period from the start of the school year to the time the service is established.
