Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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665. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for the special education school grant by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63280/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.  In the current school year over 147,900 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 3,800 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine. 

The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €332.2m. 

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 confirm that this pupil has been deemed eligible for the School Transport Scheme.

A Special Transport Grant was offered to the family referred to by the Deputy for the period the pupil did not use a School Transport Service. School Transport Section in my Department are processing the application and a payment will issue to the family in the coming days.