Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2026
101. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will consider retrospective payments of transport support grants approved for children attending special education schools, where families ordinarily would have qualified but were not made aware of supports available to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40727/26]
View answerTo answer the Deputy clearly at the outset, it's important to state that as the awarding of these Special Transport Grants depend on an application being received, retrospective grant aid cannot be considered.
For additional context then, under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, where the provision of a reasonable level of transport service is not possible, a Special Transport Grant (STG) towards the cost of private transport arrangements may be provided by the department if:
• Bus Éireann is not in a position to arrange a reasonable level of service for the child, or if
• the nature of the child’s disability is such that he or she would be unable to avail of a time-tabled school bus service which picks up other children along the route.
The Special Transport Grant (STG) is intended to assist the parent with the cost of making private transport arrangements. Once approved by the department, the payment of this grant commences on the date the parent originally signed off on the application form, or the date their child is due to start in the school, as appropriate.
A Special Transport Interim Grant may be available to families of children with special educational needs who, following the application process, are eligible under the terms of the school transport scheme and are 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.
