Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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606.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made regarding a school transport application for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.[34841/24]

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 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were 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.

Over 140,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 3% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.

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.

The pupil referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the scheme and Bus Eireann have been liaising with the family regarding the service.

Officials in my School Transport section have further advised that a request for individual transport for the pupil has since been received and additional information has been sought in order to progress the application.