Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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202. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a transport grant payment will be made to persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41916/17]

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 children in question are eligible for school transport, however as there is no existing suitable service available to meet the children's needs, my Department has sanctioned a Special Transport Grant (STG) towards the cost of private transport arrangements. 

The STG is being processed and payment will issue shortly.