Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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165. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) and have a bus ticket issued in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40670/17]

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 2016/17 school year almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres 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.

The application for special school transport was submitted in early September and the child in question is eligible for school transport.

Bus Éireann is currently examining the suitability of existing services and in the meantime the Special Transport Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements may be claimed by the family.