Written answers
Thursday, 27 April 2023
Department of Education and Skills
School Transport
Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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271. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 260 of 23 March 2023, if her Department’s school transport section will contact the family (details supplied) and provide them with an update on their request; if a permanent arrangement can be put in place with the bus service provider to facilitate the dropping-off of the child concerned to the centre for the ongoing dates as required while the child is attending school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20177/23]
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 €338.9m.
The National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.
School Transport Section has recently further sanctioned additional drop off and collections to and from a respite centre for the pupil in question on an additional number of days during the period April to June 2023.
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