David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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360. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will make resources available to Bus Éireann for a child with additional needs to attend a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31540/20]

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 School Transport Section sanctioned a service on 15th October 2020 to cater for this pupil's transport to school . A bus escort for this service has also been sanctioned.

The pupil's parent has been notified and will be contacted by the local Bus Éireann office in regard to transport arrangements.