Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

121. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide alternative school transport arrangements for a person (details supplied) with special educational needs in order to address the concerns of their parents. [23415/17]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

Currently almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.

The purpose of the School Transport Scheme for Children for Special Educational Needs is to, having regard to available resources, support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service.

Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme, is obliged to tender all works, goods and services in line with European Directives on public procurement. The tender process must be fair and equal to all applicants and although a new contractor may mean changes in arrangements for some children, Bus Éireann do not have the discretion to favour one contractor over another.

An individual school transport service with an escort was sanctioned for the child in question. All nominated school transport drivers and escorts are subject to vetting procedures conducted by the Garda Central Vetting Unit.