Vol. 468 No. 4
460 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education if she will meet with a delegation from the Charleville and District Association for the Handicapped, County Cork to discuss the content of recent correspondence sent to her from the association. [15315/96]
I am aware of the correspondence in question, which concerns the provision of escorts on the school transport system. In 1995, I allocated a sum of £150,000 for a pilot scheme of grant-aid towards the provision of escorts on certain school transport services. All applications for support under this scheme, including the application from the school in the area referred to by the Deputy, were carefully considered by my Department. Funding under the pilot scheme was allocated as follows: to special schools for physically handicapped children in respect of their transport routes; and to provide assistance towards the costs of escorts for pupils attending the special schools for the hearing-impaired and visually-impaired who travel long distances by bus and train at the weekends.
It will be necessary to fully evaluate the operation of the pilot phase before considering any modifications or expansion of the scheme. I can assure the Deputy that the needs of the children in the area in question will be given every consideration in the event of any further expansion of the scheme being undertaken. I regret that I am unable to arrange a meeting as requested by the Deputy as my diary is fully booked for the foreseeable future.
The School Transport Review Committee, established earlier this year, has been asked to review the arrangements for pupils in special schools. The provision of escort services and journey times will form part of this review.
