I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 to 82, inclusive, together.
The purpose of my 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. 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 through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO). An Application Form for school transport is completed and signed by the Parents, School Principal and the SENO prior to or at the time of first enrolment.
Applications for transport provision, under the terms of this scheme, should only be completed in circumstances where children are not in a position to avail of standard school transport services.
In relation to children who are availing of school transport under my Department's Primary or Post Primary School Transport Scheme I can advise the Deputy that information regarding a child's medical condition or disability is not part of the application process; therefore the figures requested by the Deputy are not available.
In total there are some 114,000 children availing of school transport services including almost 10,000 children with special educational needs. In addition over 1,200 families received the Remote Area Grant in 2015.