School Transport Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 February 2013

Tuesday, 12 February 2013

Questions (248)

Michael McGrath

Question:

248. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for the school transport scheme in respect of persons and a school (details supplied) in County Cork. [7048/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for transport where they: have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability in accordance with the designation of high and low incidence disability set out in Department of Education and Skill's (DES) Circular 02/05 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.

Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs). The NCSE has responsibility, through its network of SENO's, for the establishment of special education facilities and for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special educational needs.

The pupils referred to are not eligible for school transport as they are not attending their nearest recognised school that is or can be resourced to meet their special educational needs.