John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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380. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when school transport will be made available to two students (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15098/25]

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 daily 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 in 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 expenditure on the scheme in 2024 was €512m.

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 pupils referred to by the Deputy are eligible under the terms of the scheme and a sanction has been sent by School Transport Section of my Department to Bus Éireann for the establishment of a new service to cater for them.

Bus Éireann have tendered this service in line with procurement guidelines, once a contractor has been sourced, the service will commence. Bus Éireann will liaise with the family directly with regard to this matter at that stage.

Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs. Families of children who are eligible for these services may therefore apply for the interim Special Transport Grant (STG). This is paid retrospectively to families once the School Transport service is in place. It is intended to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements that the family had to put in place during that time. The family have been contacted directly by School Transport Section, and have been offered this grant.

If the family has any further queries regarding the STG, they can contact officials in School Transport Section of the Department, who will be happy to assist. Contact details are available at: gov.ie - School transport

Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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381. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will make changes to the school transport rules which will allow students doing a PLC course in their local secondary school to access school transport (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15099/25]

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 daily 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 in 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 expenditure on the scheme in 2024 was €512m.

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 School Transport Schemes funded by my Department are intended to cater for children and young persons who attend schools at primary and post primary level until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year.

As PLC learners have progressed from second level education, such incidental transport provision for these learners is no longer considered by the Department.

Based on the details supplied by the Deputy for the pupil referred, an application for school transport would not come within the remit of the School Transport Schemes.