Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

873. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications received for the academic year for transport for children with additional needs; and the number that have been processed, by county, in tabular form. [59803/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.

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.

Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).

In the current school year already over 178,000 children and young people are being transported on a daily basis to schools throughout the country.

Of those 178,000 pupils, services facilitate over 100,000 mainstream pupils who are eligible for transport, as well as over 49,000 concessionary pupils. In addition, over 23,000 pupils are travelling on dedicated school transport services for children with additional needs.

As of the 9th October, over 5,900 new applications under the school transport scheme for children with special educational needs have been received for the 2025/26 school year. The attached document shows the breakdown of these new applications per county. It is important to note that while there is a closing date for applications, the Department accept applications all year round so this number is expected to increase.

The above figure includes new applications from pupils who have moved address or school, pupils who will be placed on existing services where there is capacity, and pupils who will require new services which involve a procurement process. This figure also includes applications where families will request a special transport grant where the pupil is deemed eligible for transport, however, it may not be possible for them to travel on school transport services because of their individual requirements.