Vol. 457 No. 7
188 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Education the current status of the provision of extra helpers on buses for children with special needs; the plans, if any, she has for the future expansion of this service; and if she has satisfied herself that all EU regulations concerning school transport for children with special needs are being complied with. [16471/95]
198 Dr. McDaid asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, she has to provide supervisors on all school buses, especially for those with children with physical or mental handicap. [15995/95]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together.
I have no plans to provide supervisors on all school buses. However, in the current year I allocated £150,000 to a pilot scheme for the introduction of escorts on certain school buses conveying children with disabilities.
Applications for support under the pilot scheme are currently being considered in my Department and I would expect that the successful applicants will be notified in the near future.
My Department's transport agents, Bus Éireann, ensure that vehicles used for school transport comply with all the relevant EU regulations.
