Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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173. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a child (details supplied) who has provided documentary evidence that there is no place for the child at the nearest school will not be provided transport to the closest school which can accommodate the child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37065/18]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

In the 2017/18 school year over 117,000 children, including over 12,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 4,500 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually at a total cost of almost €190 million in 2017.

In general, Children with Special Educational Needs are eligible for school transport where they are attending the nearest recognised school that is resourced to meet their special educational needs.

Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers.

The child in question is not attending his nearest school and is therefore not eligible for school transport under the terms of the Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs. The child's parents have been advised of this decision and have been requested to submit any additional information that they may wish to have considered in relation to their application.

The terms of the School Transport Schemes are applied equitably on a national basis.