Emer Currie
Ceist:660. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on transport for a person (details supplied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12338/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 17 February 2026
Ceisteanna (660)
Freagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
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 and Youth 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.
There is a facility within the Special Educational Needs Transport Scheme for the appointment of a school transport escort where a child’s care and safety needs while on school transport are such as to require the support of a School Transport Escort.
The Board of Management/ETB are responsible for the employment of the school transport escort. The Department of Education and Youth provides grant funding directly to the school for the employment of the school transport escort and sets the rate of pay.
Bus Éireann has advised that the service is not currently operating as the school authority require a second escort on this pupil's service and have not yet appointed same. The school authority has advised that they are 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.
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 has offered an Interim Special Transport Grant (STG) to the family 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.