Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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79. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding school trransport. [21692/14]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Children with special educational needs are eligible for school 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. Children who are eligible for transport retain their eligibility while they remain enrolled in the special class/special school or unit, provided there is no change in their circumstances. Eligible children who are enrolled in an autism class/unit attached to a mainstream school and who subsequently mainstream in that school retain their transport eligibility for the duration of their primary education in this school. Children who mainstream in a different school are required to submit a new application for school transport; this application will be processed in accordance with the terms of the relevant scheme.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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80. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if school transport will be made available in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [21701/14]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Children with special educational needs are eligible for free school 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. Bus Éireann operates the scheme on behalf of my Department and is responsible for the establishing and timetabling of school transport services. Children who are eligible for school transport but for whom no service is available may be offered a Special Transport Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements. However, my Department has not as yet received an application for school transport for the 2014/15 school year on behalf of the child in question.