Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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35. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the details of areas in Cavan-Monaghan covered by the school transport for children with special needs; the areas in Cavan-Monaghan not covered by the school transport for children with special needs. [26334/24]

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 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils traveling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.

Under the terms of the Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for transport where they are attending the nearest recognised school that is or can be resourced to meet their special educational needs. The National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) acts in an advisory role to the Department on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs. A pupil with special educational needs is eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest recognised: mainstream school, special class / special school or a unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet the child's special educational needs under Department of Education criteria.

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

The School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is available to children in all areas. Transport services are allocated based on eligible applications received and are not restricted by geographic location once the eligibility requirements are fulfilled.

Applications for transport under this scheme are accepted on a year round basis to ensure eligible children receive the transport they require. New applications are catered for through a mix of new services (some being individual), children being accommodated on existing services where capacity exists, extensions of existing routes and grants to families. The transport network is extended regularly to meet the growing demands of the scheme.