Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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278. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures being taken to address a lack of school transport since October 2024 for a child with special needs (details supplied); when this family can expect school transport for their child to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4164/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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 172,500 children, are transported daily in approximately 7,900 vehicles across 10,300 routes to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. These daily trips cover over 100 million kilometres. this figure includes over 143,800 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 21,700 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

The scheme is made up of three separate schemes, the school transport scheme for primary, post primary and for children with special educational needs. Transport is also provided for children who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine and those residing in IPAS/EROC centres.

The total cost of the scheme in 2024 was €454m.

The purpose of my 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 acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education and Skills 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.

Bus Éireann is very conscious of the specialised nature of transport provision for pupils with special educational needs under the School Transport Scheme and all services are planned to meet the individual requirements of children travelling.

Bus Éireann continue to report particular issues with resource availability (drivers/contractors) in certain areas. This is against a backdrop of significant shortages of drivers in the labour market overall and competing demands for drivers to deliver additional public transport initiatives such as Connecting Ireland and Bus Connects/Local Link services.

Bus Eireann has advised that this route has not commenced due to a procurement issue. This service has been tendered a number of times but no bids were received for this route. This service is currently out to tender again at present.

A Special Transport Interim Grant has been offered to the family concerned as they are eligible under the terms of the school transport scheme and are awaiting a School Transport service to be put in place.

This grant is a once off payment. The interim grant is offered from the date of application to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements the family have to put in place until a transport service is ready to commence.

Further information on the Special Transport Interim Grant can be found at: .