110. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in special schools in Cork who have been sanctioned for school transport but have yet to receive it. [73835/26]

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.

As part of this operation, Bus Éireann manages the procurement tender process and contract management arrangements to include services provided by private contractors for both the mainstream and special educational needs (SEN) schemes.

Applications under the special educational needs scheme are currently received all year round. When the application has been processed by School Transport Section and it has been confirmed that the pupil is eligible for transport, it is sent to Bus Éireann. Bus Éireann assesses each application to identify the options available.

Where children can be facilitated on an existing service, applications are processed immediately, and arrangements put in place with families involved. Where a new service must be established there is a lead in period for this process that includes issues such as route design, procurement and vetting of contractors.

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 special educational needs school transport may therefore apply for the interim Special Transport Grant. This is a once off payment, paid retrospectively to families once the School Transport service is in place and is intended to assist towards the cost of private transport arrangements the family had put in place until services are finalised.

The data requested by the Deputy is currently being collated by Bus Éireann and officials in my Department will follow up with directly when it is ready.