Grace Boland
Ceist:425. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the details of the special transport grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51212/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 30 September 2025
Ceisteanna (425)
Freagraí scríofa
In relation to the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, a parent/guardian may avail of a Special Transport Grant (STG) for a child with special educational needs. A school transport application under the scheme must have been made before the STG can be considered.
Where the provision of a reasonable level of transport service is not possible, the STG may be provided by the department on the basis outlined below:
• Bus Éireann is not in a position to arrange a reasonable level of service for the child
• the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO) by reference to relevant professional reports or through information supplied by the relevant school authority, is satisfied that the nature of the child’s disability is such that they would be unable to avail of a time-tabled school bus service which picks up other children along the route
Further to the above, an Interim Special Transport 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.
With effect from the start of the 2024/2025 school year the rate of the STG was increased as recommended in the review of the school transport scheme. The current rate is 41.80 cent for the first 6,437 kilometres travelled and 31.78 cent per kilometre for each kilometre travelled thereafter.
The STG is sanctioned from the date of application. Retrospective payments are not a feature of the grant.
Further details of the STG are available at:
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/services/school-transport/#special-transport-grant