Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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376. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on an application by a pupil (details supplied) for a special transport grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62208/22]

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 last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.

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 National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) acts in an advisory role to my Department on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs.

Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).

I am pleased to advise that the child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs.

Bus Éireann has advised that there is no existing suitable service available to accommodate the child referred. As in such circumstances, my Department offered a Special Transport Grant (STG) towards the cost of private transport arrangements which the family accepted. My Department liaised directly with the family in regard to this request and I am pleased to advise the Special Transport Grant payment has issued to the family for the outlined period.