Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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703.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will engage with a school (details supplied) over the bus operator refusing to collect certain children despite signing a contract for the same, however there appears to be no penalties that can be applied; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[35916/24]

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 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.

Over 140,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 3% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.

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 reported that unfortunately, for a small number of families assigned to Special Educational Needs transport services, difficulties have arisen in some localities with a small number of contracted services.

Bus Éireann School Transport team is working intensively to ensure that transport arrangements are put in place as soon as possible. Bus Éireann is engaging with families where transport was sanctioned and where there may be delays in securing a new service. A Special Transport Interim Grant has been offered to families of children with special educational needs who, following the application process, are eligible under the terms of the school transport scheme and were awaiting a School Transport service to be put in place.

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 the family had put in place until a transport service is ready to commence. Further information on the Special Transport Interim Grant can be found at: gov.ie/schooltransport.

Work is continuing in order to resolve this matter and Bus Éireann are committed to providing transport as quickly as is possible.

Bus Éireann has put in place a dedicated customer care call centre to assist families specifically with School Transport queries during the busy summer period. Families that have queries can contact the call centre on: LoCall 0818 919 910. Operating hours are usually 09.00 – 17.00 Monday to Friday.

Families can also contact Bus Éireann by submitting a query via the following link: www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=523

Bus Eireann have advised that there is one service not operating to this school at present due to a procurement issue but Bus Éireann continue to work to resolve the matter as soon as possible.