Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

429. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on an application for a school bus ticket for children (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11313/21]

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 current school year over 113,100 children, including over 14,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.

The purpose of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the scheme children are eligible for transport where they have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability and are attending the nearest recognised mainstream school, special class/special school or unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs.

All eligible children are exempt from school transport charges and a Special Transport Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements may be provided in certain circumstances.

The first child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport. Given that there is no suitable service in the area to accommodate the pupil's needs, School Transport Section wrote to the parents of the child in July 2019 offering the Special Transport Grant and advising that if transport was required, parents should contact the School Transport Section. No response has been received from the parents and following a request for information on the pupils applcation by the Special Educational Needs Officer, School Transport Section have reissued the letter to the parents and advised the SENO of the next steps required in order to provide transport or a Special Transport Grant for the pupil.

School Transport Section have not received a transport application for the second pupil referred to by the Deputy.