Children with special needs going without school transport

A spokesperson said Bus Éireann is continuing to prioritise sourcing vehicles and drivers and continues to engage directly with families affected, with regular communications updating them on the position of their transport service. Picture: Mark Stedman/RollingNews.ie

Some 100 children with special educational needs remain without school transport services, more than a month on from schools reopening.

The School Transport Scheme, which is managed by Bus Éireann, has run into various challenges because of the lack of availability of drivers and contractors in several areas across the country.

In a number of cases, transport was sourced for children but contracts were handed back, while there have been zero bids to provide the services in certain areas.

This has led to several services not being in place, impacting around 100 children with special needs who had availed of the services last year, the Department of Education has confirmed.

“Both the department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs.

“Families of children who are eligible for these services, but who experience a delay with accessing them, may therefore apply for the Special Transport Grant (STG),” a department spokesperson said.

The grant is a once-off payment, paid retrospectively to families to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements the family had put in place until services are finalised.

The spokesperson said Bus Éireann is continuing to prioritise sourcing vehicles and drivers and continues to engage directly with families affected, with regular communications updating them on the position of their transport service.

“Where children can be facilitated on an existing service, applications are processed immediately and arrangements put in place with families involved,” a department spokesperson said.

The issue was recently raised by Cork East Labour TD, Seán Sherlock who said there it is “deeply frustrating for families”.

It is impacting not only on their education but on their routine and quality of life, which is so important to maintain.

“The school year has started, funding is there, but there is no sense of urgency from the Department to ensure that it is resolved,” he said.

Last year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, availed of the School Transport Scheme, costing €339m.

So far more than 5,000 new applications have been received for Special Educational Needs transport this year, compared to some 3,670 new applications received this time last year.

This week, Education Minister Norma Foley announced an extra €92 in additional funding for the scheme next year which will be used to provide additional places for children with special educational needs, increased bus contractor costs, as well as the continued reduction in fees paid by parents.