Vol. 482 No. 6
284 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the growing concern at the lack of adult supervision for handicapped children and adults who, of necessity, must travel by bus or mini-bus transport; whether his Department will allocate at least one adult, other than the bus driver, to supervise the patients while travelling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18629/97]
The question of the provision of escorts in certain circumstances on transport used by children and adults with disabilities to attend health funded services has been raised with my Department by statutory and voluntary service providers. Arrangements for the provision of escorts have been made in particular circumstances by the relevant service providers who continue to monitor the needs of the clients using their transport services and to endeavour to meet those needs from the resources, both new and existing, which are available to them. When new clients are being placed in services, the transport arrangements to enable them to attend these services, including the provision of escorts where necessary, are taken into account.
Where children with a disability are attending school services, the transport arrangements are the responsibility of the Department of Education.
