Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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178. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the transport options available for a child (details supplied) in County Tipperary attending an ASD unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2599/20]

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 current school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, are 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 €219m in 2019.

The purpose of the 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.

In general, children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest school that is resourced to meet their special educational needs.Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO). 

Parent(s) of the child referred to by the Deputy should contact School Transport Section of my Department or their school principal who will advise in regard to an application for school transport.

Further information regarding the School Transport Schemes are available on the Department’s website at .