Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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240. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on school transportation for a person (details supplied). [22008/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, 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 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.

Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil referred could not travel on the service, due to the matter raised by the Deputy. An additional escort was sanctioned for the service to allow the pupil to return to the service. School Transport Section is engaging with the school in relation to this sanction and will contact the family directly.

Bus Éireann have a dedicated customer care call centre to help families with school transport questions.

If families have any questions, they can call the centre at LoCall 0818 919 910. The phone lines are open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday.

Queries can also be submitted via: Bus Éireann's website: Bus Éireann online.