Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to backdating a school transport grant in respect of a child (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42695/19]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.  In the 2018/2019 school year over 117,500 children, including over 13,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €200m in 2018. 

The family of the pupil referred to by the Deputy has received the special transport grant for the 2017/18 and 2018/19 school years. The parents of the pupil have been advised that since their application was made on the 15th November 2016, they may submit a statement of attendance to the Department from this date to the end of the 2016/17 school year. 

Under the terms of the scheme, the payment of a grant is considered for the school year in which an application for transport is received. Grants are not paid retrospectively.