Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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495. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an urgent review will be carried out in relation to the case of a person (details supplied); if the application will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4865/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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School 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, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.

Under the terms of my Department’s School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for school transport where they have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability and  are attending the nearest recognised school/class that is resourced to meet their special educational needs. Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers.

The pupil in question was accommodated on an existing SEN service and, based on public health advice, this service operated to the school in question in the 2020/21 school year at 50% capacity. However, in line with the lifting of restrictions on public transport, and with effect from the return of schools following the October mid-term break, implementation commenced for the service to resume operating at 100% capacity.

Once the service resumed operating at 100% capacity, an application for an individual service for this pupil was received in School Transport Section.  The individual service has now been sanctioned and the family concerned have been notified.