Written answers
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Department of Education and Science
School Transport
9:00 pm
Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 377: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will instruct her officials to allow a child (details supplied) in County Carlow with special educational needs to receive a transport grant under the school transport scheme; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this child's parents have travelled more than 32,000 km to bring their son to school since April 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17594/10]
Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme, a pupil with special needs will be eligible for school transport if s/he is attending the nearest recognised mainstream school, special class, special school or unit that is, or can be resourced to meet the child's special educational needs under Department of Education and Skills criteria. The purpose of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Needs is to provide a reasonable level of transport service for children with a diagnosed disability and/or special educational need, who, because of the nature of their disability, may not be in a position to avail of a school bus service which would be time-tabled to pick up other children along the route of service. The position is that at the time of enrolment in the unit in question, there was a nearer recognised unit that could have accommodated the pupil referred to in the details supplied by the Deputy. On this basis, the pupil in question is not eligible for a transport service or transport grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements.
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