Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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105. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address the case of a person (details supplied) regarding travel costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23180/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. 

In the 2019/2020 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 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 €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 arising from a diagnosed disability.  

Children are eligible for transport where they have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability in accordance with the Department's critera 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.  

It would appear from the details supplied by the Deputy that this school is outstide of the terms of the Scheme as it is a privately operated facility, for which my Department has no remit.