Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 September 2026
74. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department is responsible for the allocation of school bus tickets for children with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69378/26]
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.
Children are eligible for transport where they have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability and are attending the nearest recognised mainstream school, special class/special school or a unit that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs.
Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).
On receipt of an application, the SENO is required to confirm that the criteria for the provision of school transport is met. Once the SENO has completed their section of the form, they will forward it to the School Transport Section of the Department of Education and Youth for consideration.
When the application has been processed by School Transport Section and it has been confirmed that the child/young person is eligible for transport, their details are submitted to Bus Éireann who operate the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department. Bus Éireann will then advise what transport options may be available.
In some cases, the SENO may advise that the child/young person does not meet the criteria under the terms of the Scheme, and the Department will engage with the family in these cases.
Where a service has been approved by the department, Bus Éireann are required to tender services in line with procurement guidelines and are responsible for the allocating and vetting of a contractor to operate this service.
Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs.
In such circumstances where there is no existing suitable service available to meet a child's needs, and/or while Bus Éireann are in the process of sourcing a specialised school transport service, the Department will offer a Special Transport Grant (STG) to families of eligible children towards the cost of private transport arrangements based on the number of days attended from the date of application until a suitable dedicated specialised service becomes available.
Bus Éireann then liaise directly with families where a service becomes available with the detail of that service.
