Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2023
140. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the intervention she and her Department have made in relation to the ongoing issue of school transportation from Ballyvourney, Macroom and surrounding areas to a school (details supplied). [31618/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
There has been an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services have been provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
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.
There is a facility within the Special Needs Transport Scheme for the appointment of a school bus escort where a child’s care and safety needs while on school transport are such to require the support of an escort. The appointment of the bus escort, where required, is sanctioned by the Department of Education. The school management authority employs the bus escort and the terms and conditions of employment are a matter for the school management authority as the employer.
The Department of Education provide funding in advance of the school year to the school’s management authority for the employment of a school bus escort.
Officials in my Department will continue to engage with the relevant parties in respect of the matter raised in order to find a satisfactory outcome.
Where a service cannot operate, due to lack of driver or bus escort availability, families of children who are eligible for school transport for children with special educational needs may apply for the Special Transport Grant which is a once off payment, paid retrospectively to families once the School Transport service is in place and is to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements the family have put in place until the service is finalised.
Families can contact School Transport Section directly at school_transport@education.gov.ie, where officials in my Department will be happy to assist with any queries.
