Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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100. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the services that can accommodate a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40706/18]

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

The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.

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.

Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for transport where they are attending the nearest recognised school that is or can be 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.

Special Schools funded by my Department are intended to cater for children and young persons with special educational needs from 4 years until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year and these children may apply for school transport in accordance with the terms of the above scheme.

The Department of Health/Health Service Executive assumes direct responsibility for young adults with special educational needs who are over 18 years.

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