Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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208. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will continue to provide free transport to children attending units or schools catering for children with special needs; if her attention has been drawn to difficulties arising for some students whereby the nearest such school to them is full and they are required to travel some distance to get a school place; and if she will provide an assurance that her Department will continue to fund transport in such cases. [38809/14]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for transport, where they are attending the nearest recognised school that is or can be resourced to meet their special educational needs.

All children with special educational needs who are currently categorised as eligible for free school transport retain this eligibility provided their circumstances have not changed.

The National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) acts in an advisory role to my Department on the suitability and availability of placements for children with special educational needs.

Where the Department is satisfied that the child is attending his/her nearest school which is resourced to meet their special educational needs, this child is considered eligible for free school transport regardless of the distance from home to school.