Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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91. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of school transport for the special needs students in a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40649/18]

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.

Bus Éireann has advised that the service referred to by the Deputy is a new service and is out to tender for the 2018/19 school year and Bus Éireann will continue to liaise directly with the families.

Families of children who are eligible for school transport may avail of the Special Transport Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements until services are finalised.