Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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83. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the provision of school transport is under consideration for a person (details supplied); if so, when the outcome will be decided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45668/19]

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.

As a sibling of the child referred to by the deputy is availing of an individual Special Educational Needs transport service, the child referred to can be facilitated with school transport on that service for this school year 2019/20.

However, this arrangement will be reviewed annually. In the event that another child with special educational needs seeks to avail of the service, then it will not be possible to allow the child referred to by the Deputy remain on the service.

Bus Eireann will liaise with the family directly in regard to transport arrangements.