andMr. Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that transport provided for handicapped children travelling between Cregg House, Sligo and Donegal has been curtailed; and whether he will take the necessary action to have this facility restored.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Handicapped Children Transport.
24.
I am not aware that there has been any curtailment in this service.
There has been a curtailment in services which were provided for children attending this school. When we made complaints the situation was eased somewhat. Arrangements were made for the children to be brought back in ambulances, but some of them were carried all over the country. Would it be possible for the Minister to have a look at it and to arrange to have pick-up points? Parents of these children have agreed to travel to selected areas to meet the minibus or whatever mode of transport it used and pick up the children if they could be guaranteed that the minibus would be there at a particular time.
I made inquiries of the North Western Health Board, and I am informed that there has been no curtailment in the service. The position is that up to mid-1976 these children were brought from Cregg House, Sligo to Donegal and to points south of Donegal as well. The arrangement was that parents beyond Donegal town would collect the children in Donegal town on Friday afternoon and return them to Donegal town where they would be picked up by minibus or ambulance and transported to Cregg House.
What the Minister says is not quite correct. That was the position. The question refers to whether the Minister is aware that that type of service ceased and was replaced by a rather uncertain situation of being transported by ambulance when it is available. This situation in the case of handicapped children causes grave hardship because the ambulance is not always available at the same time, and even when it is expected it has been as late as two hours arriving at Donegal, either dropping children or picking them up as the case may be.
Brevity, please.
The question is asking restoration of the former facility for those unfortunate children whose parents have travelled from the furthest corners of Donegal to Donegal town to pick them up. They are being pushed around.
This is a very long question; it is tantamount to a speech.
I will try to make it short.
It has already been very long.
It is a rather difficult and touchy subject. Will the Minister restore the service or see to it that the service is restored? It was not asking too much of anybody. If it is not to be restored will the Minister say why it was taken away and why it will not be restored?
The taxi service was taken away because it was too expensive. What the Deputy has just told me is new information. I was not aware that there have been long delays, but if the Deputy alleges that there have been delays I will have the matter looked into.
That is my information from those who have children there.