Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will direct his Department to examine the situation which exists at Ivy House at Castlerea, County Roscommon where two autistic children (details supplied) travel to the same school in Knockcroghery on the same days of the week, one travels on a bus operated by Bus Éireann and the other must travel by transport provided by Ivy House; his views on whether this is a waste of money and if he will undertake to see that this duplication is ended by directing Bus Éireann to transport both boys on the same bus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28409/12]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme, children with special educational needs are eligible for transport if they are attending the nearest recognised mainstream school, special class/ special school or a unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs under Department of Education and Skills criteria.

The purpose of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is to provide a reasonable level of transport service for children with a diagnosed disability and/or special educational need. In general, school transport services bring eligible children from their home to school and from school to home. Individual taxis and escorts are considered in cases where a child's care and safety needs require this level of support.

Bus Éireann, who is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport services may consider atypical transport requests where they are satisfied that a child's care and safety needs are addressed, where there is no deviation from an existing route and where no additional cost is incurred.

In the case referred to by the Deputy, Bus Éireann has advised that the two children in question travel on two separate services in different directions to and from school. Bus Éireann has safety concerns regarding the proposed transport arrangement and for this reason it is not possible to facilitate the request.