School transport for children with special educational needs

The Department of Education provides school transport services for children with special educational needs who cannot use standard school transport services.

Bus Éireann operates the school transport service on behalf of the Department of Education.

The school transport service may not be available in all areas. Where a school transport service cannot be provided, you may be eligible for a Special Transport Grant to help with the cost of making private transport arrangements (see “Is there a charge for special educational needs school transport?” below).

The School Transport Scheme (pdf) applies to children with special educational needs recognised by the Department of Education.

Your child must be attending:

• The nearest recognised mainstream school, or
• Special class or special school, or
• A unit resourced to meet their special educational needs

You can also apply on medical grounds if your child would be unable to attend school due to illness or disability during a specified period unless transport was provided.

Escort for your child on school transport

The Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) can recommend an escort be employed to accompany your child on school transport, if your child’s care and safety needs require that support. The School Management Authority employs the escort.

Special class arrangements

Transport services for children with special educational needs are only provided for the period of enrolment in a special class. If your child returns to mainstream classes, special transport arrangements will not be provided.

Eligible children who are enrolled in an autism class or unit attached to a mainstream school and who subsequently move to mainstream in that same school will retain their transport eligibility for the duration of their primary education in this school. However, a new application must be made if they transfer to a new school.

You may get a Special Transport Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements if:

• Bus Éireann is unable to arrange a reasonable level of service for your child
• The SENO is satisfied that due to the nature of your child’s disability, they would be unable to avail of a service which picks up other children

You must have applied for school transport for children with special educational needs before you can be considered for a Special Transport Grant.

How much is the Special Transport Grant?

The Special Transport Grant is paid by kilometre.

If your school transport service has not started

If you have a school transport ticket and your service has not yet started, you may get a Special Transport Interim Grant.

The grant is to help with the cost of transport to school while you are waiting for your school transport to start. The grant is a once-off payment.

The grant is based on the number of days your child attends school from the date the service was due to start up to the date the service actually starts. It will be paid after your school transport service starts and at the same rate as the Special Transport Grant.

You should contact the School Transport Section for more information on the Special Transport Interim Grant (see ‘More information’) below.

You can apply for school transport by:

• Submitting the application to the school principal, who will ask the school’s Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) to review the application
• Submitting the application to the SENO directly – you can find contact details for your local SENO on the National Council for Special Education website

You should submit any supporting documents with your application, such as medical reports outlining your child’s disability. Your application needs to be signed by the parents or guardians, the school principal and the SENO. Decisions regarding transport eligibility are based on your child's circumstances at the time of first enrolment

The SENO will review your application and, if they are satisfied that your child is enrolled in the nearest school and needs school transport, they will send your application to the School Transport Section in the Department of Education for a decision.

Appealing a refusal of school transport

If your application has been refused, you are entitled to appeal the decision. You must make an appeal within 28 days after the date of the notification of refusal. You can appeal to the School Transport Appeals Board online on the School Transport Appeals website. There is no charge to make an appeal.

Read more about the school transport scheme for children with special educational needs on Gov.ie and in the Department of Education’s School Transport Scheme for children with special educational needs document (pdf).