Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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81. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in the provision of school transport for a child (details supplied) attending a special ASD unit; the supports available to parents to meet alternative transport costs; when it is expected transport as approved will be available for the check; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51191/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, 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 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.

In addition, school transport scheme services were 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 purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.

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.

An application for school transport with a change of address was recently made by the parent and the pupil in question has been deemed eligible for school transport.

Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil can be accommodated on existing SEN service in the morning. A double trip is required in the afternoon as the pupil is attending school on a junior day and arrangements for this have been made with the contractor. Bus Éireann will liaise directly with the parent shortly to make necessary arrangements.

In the meantime, the family may avail of the Special Transport Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements.

This grant is a once off payment. The interim grant is offered from the date of application to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements that families have to put place until a transport service is ready to commence.

The family do not need to make an application; the School Transport Section in the Department of Education will email them directly with further details of the grant.

Bus Éireann has put in place a dedicated customer care call centre to assist families specifically with School Transport queries during this period. Families that have queries can contact the call centre on: LoCall 0818 919 910. Operating hours are usually 9.00am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday.

Families can also submit queries via the ‘contact form’ which can be found on their website (buseireann.ie/schooltransport).