Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 229: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide school transport for children (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39807/09]

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 is eligible for school transport if s/he is attending the nearest recognised: mainstream school, special class/special school or a unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet the child's special educational needs under Department of Education and Science criteria.

The National Council for Special Education has responsibility, through its network of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for the establishment of special education facilities and for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs.

The parents/guardians of the pupils in question should liaise, in the first instance, with the local SENO. Eligibility for transport, under the terms of the above scheme, will then be examined upon receipt of the completed application forms for transport.