Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

430. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the length of time it takes to process an application for a special transport grant; how many special transport grants applications have been received in the last five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15754/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) acts in an advisory role to my Department on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs.

A pupil with special educational needs is eligible for school transport if s/he is attending the nearest recognised mainstream school, special class / special school or 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).

Parents should contact their school principal who will assist in making an application for school transport to the SENO that is affiliated with the school the child is attending.

Where an application has been made and there is no existing service that can accommodate an eligible child on a dedicated school transport service or, where difficulties arise sourcing a suitable school transport services, the Department sanction a Special Transport Grant to assist with the cost of making alternative transport arrangements.

The grant is effective from the date an application for transport was first made for an eligible pupil. If the application is made in advance of a pupil starting in a school, once approved, it will be payable from the date they commence attendance. An application for transport under the scheme must be made and the pupil must be deemed eligible before a grant will be considered. It is not the Department’s policy to make retrospective payment of grant aid.

The rate of grant for the 2024/25 school year is 41.80 cent per kilometre for the first 6,437 kilometres and 31.78 cent per kilometre thereafter.

This grant is calculated based on the number of days an eligible child attends school, which is confirmed by the school by completing a statement of attendance form. This form must be signed by the school principal and forwarded to the School Transport Section in advance of any payment being made.

If a family who is offered the Special Transport Grant (STG) wishes to accept the grant, they must complete the Special Transport Grant Return Form confirming this option and return it to the School Transport Section of my Department.

To ensure that payments are processed in an efficient and timely manner payments are processed three times are year; November, March and year end. Otherwise, one payment will be made to cover the full school year during the summer months.

Payments can only be processed when correctly completed Statement of Attendance forms are returned and payee details are up to date.

As Special Transport Grants are offered to families, there is no application process for the STG, and therefore it is not possible to provide the number of applications made for Special Transport Grants. However, the number of Special Transport Grants that have been paid in the past 5 years can be provided and is detailed in the table attached.