Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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245. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when school transport will commence for a student (details supplied) with additional needs. [59896/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.

The purpose of the Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.

The National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) acts in an advisory role to my Department on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs.

Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).

I am pleased to confirm that the pupil has been deemed eligible for the School Transport Scheme.

Bus Éireann has advised that the parent of the pupil referred to by the Deputy in this case has been contacted directly and has been provided with the option of receiving the special transport grant or having a new transport service established for their child. This correspondence issued to the parent on the 21^stOctober 2022.School Transport Section are awaiting a response from the parent on their preferred option.