Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the payment for the special transport grant for a person (details supplied) will be released in view of the fact it is overdue. [39031/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 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 €219m in 2019.

The purpose of the 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 child referred to by the Deputy is in receipt of a Special Transport Grant under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs. School Transport Section has been in contact with the child's parent in regard to making payment of this grant for the 2019/20 school year as soon as possible.