Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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773. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application by a person (details supplied) in County Louth under the Free School Transport Scheme; when a decision is expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28548/15]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme, a child with special educational needs is eligible for 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 my Department's criteria.

Children who are eligible for school transport, under the terms of this scheme, are exempt from paying an annual charge.

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 of placements for children with special educational needs.

In this case, it has been reported that the school the child in question is attending is not the nearest school resourced to meet his educational needs and therefore he is not eligible for school transport to this school.

Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only, subject to a number of terms and conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service and the payment of the annual charge.

In this regard, the family should liaise with the local Bus Éireann office at 042.6825999.