Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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479. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when CIÉ will be providing school transport for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28781/20]

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 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).

The child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of the above scheme, and I am pleased to advise that a service to cater for the pupil was sanctioned by my Department on 28 September, 2020. A new service for this pupil is being set up by Bus Éireann and Bus Éireann will be in contact with the family in regard to the arrangements for this service. The family will be eligible for a grant until such time that the service is up and running.