Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 November 2025
435. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the case of a child (details supplied); and if she will instruct her Department to ensure that the child in question is provided with necessary supports. [65969/25]
View answerThe 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 acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education and Youth 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 have advised that there is no current service that can accommodate this pupil’s wheelchair. The current service this pupil is on is a minibus and the contractor has advised they have no wheelchair bus available.
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 family of the child referred to has been contacted in relation to an interim STG.
