Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a child (details supplied) can receive school transport in view of the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42484/19]

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 2018/2019 school year over 117,500 children, including over 13,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €200m in 2018. 

Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for transport if they are attending the nearest recognised mainstream school, special class / special school or a unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet the child's special educational needs under Department of Education and Skills criteria.

Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).

The School Transport Section of my Department has not received an application for the child referred to by the Deputy.