Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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141. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a child (details supplied) is being refused school transport. [26108/20]

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 2019/20 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.

Under the terms of my Department’s School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for school transport where they have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability and are attending the nearest recognised school/class 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.

The pupil referred to by the Deputy is not deemed eligible for transport as he is not attending his nearest recognised school/class that is resourced to meet his special educational needs.