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.

Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are generally eligible for school transport where they meet the Department's criteria and are attending the nearest recognised school that is resourced to meet their special educational needs.

Eligibility for school transport 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 eligible for school transport as he is not attending the nearest school that is resourced to meet his educational needs. 

Children who are not eligible for school transport, may be able to avail of transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service. The family in question should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office if they wish to avail of transport on a concessionary basis.

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