Emer Currie
Question:1122. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding school transport for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74697/25]
View answerTuesday, 13 January 2026
Questions (1122)
Written answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.
The purpose of the 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.
I am pleased to advise that an application for school transport was received on 12th May 2025 for the pupil referred to and they have been deemed eligible for school transport under the terms of the above scheme.
The Department of Education & Youth issue grant funding to schools for the employment of School Bus Escorts. School bus escorts are employed by each school through School Management Authorities. They are employed on board a school transport service provided through Bus Éireann where the child’s care and safety needs while on board the school transport are such as they require the support of an escort.
Following correspondence from the SENO, School Transport Section provided sanction for an escort to Scoil Mhuire NS, Mount Sackville for route B2283 on 11.11.2025. Following further communication between School Transport Section and the school principal on 08.01.2026, a second escort was sanctioned for this route.
Bus Éireann has advised that the service is not currently operating as the school authority do not yet have an escort in place. The school authority is actively working through the process.
Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs. Bus Éireann are required to tender services in line with procurement guidelines and are responsible for the allocating and Garda vetting clearance of a contractor to operate this service.
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. School Transport Section of my Department will contact the family directly in this regard.