Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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190. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the parents (details supplied) of children with special needs in County Donegal can expect to receive a decision with respect to school transport requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51746/18]

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.

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. 

The children in question are eligible for school transport and are currently availing of a mainstream school transport service under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme.

My officials have requested Bus Éireann to contact the family directly regarding their request for a change of pick-up and set-down point.

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