Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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246. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) attending a special needs school and resolve the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26658/16]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. During the 2015/16 school year in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in approximately 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million km annually. In general, children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest recognised mainstream or special school that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs under Department of Education and Skills criteria. Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO). In this case, it has been reported that the school referred to by Deputy does not represent the nearest school to the home of the child referred to by the Deputy that is or can be resourced to meet his special educational needs under Department of Education and Skills criteria. The child mentioned in this case is therefore not eligible for school transport or school transport grant to the school referred to under the terms of the school transport scheme. The terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs are applied equitably on a national basis.