Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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188. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding is available for transport (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16079/19]

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

There are currently over 117,500 children, including over 13,000 children with special educational needs, transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.

The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability.

Schools and/or parents may also privately hire buses for school trips or activities.  These arrangements operate outside of the School Transport Scheme and are a matter for the school authority at local level.