asked the Minister for Education if, in relation to the primary school transport service, he would ensure that all children who were medically certified as requiring it are given free transport.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Transport Service.
11.
Children who satisfy certain prescribed conditions with regard to age and minimum distance of their home residences from their nearest school are eligible for free transport in accordance with the provisions of the school transport scheme.
Where it is shown to the satisfaction of the Department, on the basis of a certificate furnished by a medical doctor, that due to his illness or disability a child, who is not eligible for free transport, would be unable to attend school during a specified period unless transport were provided, permission may be accorded to the child to travel free on an existing transport service for such period.
Is it not the case that sometimes these children cannot get transport because there is not room on the bus?
I have no information in regard to that. If the Deputy has such a case in mind and if he gives me particulars I shall look into it.
12.
asked the Minister for Education if he would introduce specially reduced fares on the primary school transport service for the younger children of low income families who were at present ineligible for free transport.
The fares payable by children who are ineligible for free transport under the prescribed conditions are very much lower than those payable for similar distances on the public scheduled services. This position has been reached as a result of heavy subsidising of the fares by the Department. I do not feel that further subsidising would be warranted.
13.
asked the Minister for Education if his Department would provide transport for mentally retarded children whose parents were unable to provide such transport.
Transport services are sanctioned by the Department to almost all of the special schools catering for mentally handicapped children at which day pupils are in attendance. However, because of the scattered distribution of handicapped children throughout the country it is not always possible to cater for all of the children on special services. In the case of isolated children the Department can make grants towards the cost of their conveyance to school.
In view of the fact that since 1st October, 1971, all children suffering from mental disease under the age of 16 are entitled to completely free medical services, does this not include entitlement to free transport to a special centre of education?
I have pointed out that transport services are sanctioned by the Department to almost all the special schools catering for mentally handicapped children at which day pupils are in attendance. In some instances, because of the scattered distribution of the handicapped children, it is not possible to provide a special service and a grant is made available to them.
Question No. 14.