Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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242. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware that at least 12-children accepted into a school (details supplied) have been unable to attend school this term due to the absence of a transport provider; the immediate steps her Department will take to guarantee school transport for these children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49523/25]

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 and Youth.

Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs. Bus Éireann are required to tender services in line with procurement guidelines and are responsible for the allocating and Garda vetting clearance of a contractor to operate this service.

Bus Éireann has advised that the service in question is currently in the procurement process. Once a suitable contractor has been sourced this service will commence.

In such circumstances where there is no existing suitable service available to meet a child's needs, and while Bus Éireann are in the process of establishing the service for the child referred, the Department will offer an Interim Special Transport Grant (STG) to families of eligible children towards the cost of private transport arrangements. This is based on the number of days attended from the date of application until a suitable service becomes available. The families will be contacted in the coming days in this regard.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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243. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has contingency measures in place for children with additional needs when a bus provider withdraws from a route or retires; the reason such measures have not been applied in the case of students attending a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49524/25]

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 and Youth.

Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs. Bus Éireann are required to tender services in line with procurement guidelines and are responsible for the allocating and Garda vetting clearance of a contractor to operate this service.

Bus Éireann has advised that the service in question is currently in the procurement process. Once a suitable contractor has been sourced this service will commence.

In such circumstances where there is no existing suitable service available to meet a child's needs, and while Bus Éireann are in the process of establishing the service for the child referred, the Department will offer an Interim Special Transport Grant (STG) to families of eligible children towards the cost of private transport arrangements. This is based on the number of days attended from the date of application until a suitable service becomes available. The families will be contacted in the coming days in this regard.