Vol. 495 No. 1
420 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the school bus providing service to children with special needs at a school (detail supplied) in Dublin 1 has no seat belts and no carer; and if he will make a statement on the steps being taken to resolve these respective problems. [19577/98]
I am aware of the situation to which the Deputy refers. The school in question is not currently included in the pilot scheme of escorts funded by my Department.
The current pilot phase of the escort scheme is focused on facilitating the appointment of escorts on services to special schools for children with physical disabilities, and providing assistance towards the cost of escorts for pupils attending the special schools for hearing impaired and visually impaired children who travel long distances by bus or train at weekends.
I can assure the Deputy that I am very much aware of the need to extend the existing escort scheme on special school transport services and to provide additional funding for the purchase of safety harnesses. I am currently giving active consideration to possible measures in this regard.
The needs of the school to which the Deputy refers will be fully considered in the context of any development of services in this area.
