Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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227. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure adequate special needs school transport supports are put in place without further delay for a person (details supplied). [7763/20]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my 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 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. Children are eligible for transport where they have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability in accordance with the Department's criteria and are attending the nearest recognised mainstream school, special class/special school or a unit, that is or can be 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.

The School Transport Section of my Department is currently liaising with the parent in regard to her application for transport for her son.