Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 1049: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the criteria laid down in relation to the school transport system; if there is special circumstances in relation to families who have special needs cases where the family have children in separate schools and thus there is a greater demand on the parents to provide such transport due to their circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2369/08]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Pupils with special needs are generally provided with school transport to the nearest school that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs. Applications for school transport for pupils with special needs should be made through the local Special Education Needs Organiser. Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, will endeavour to provide a reasonable level of service to meet each pupil's transport needs.

My Department also allocates funding to schools to enable them, where necessary, to employ escorts on school transport services to cater for children with special educational needs whose care requirements are such as to necessitate continuous support.

Where the provision of a transport service is not possible, my Department may offer a grant to the parents towards the cost of making private transport arrangements.