Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 January 2026
54. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the guidelines relating to the distance to a child’s nearest school will be reviewed, particularly in cases where a child requires a special education place and the nearest school with such facilities may be the furthest from the family home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6692/26]
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 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. It is recognised that for some children and young people, this may not be the school nearest to their home.
Parents should contact their school principal who will assist in making an application for school transport to the SENO that is affiliated with the school the child is attending.
Further details of this scheme can be found on the Departments website www.gov.ie/en/service/07a71-school-transport/#children-with-special-educational-needs
