Vol. 489 No. 6
672 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps, if any, that will be taken by his Department to provide appropriate school transport for a person (details supplied) when there is no school transport available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8588/98]
My Department makes every effort to provide school transport for children attending special schools and classes on either scheduled or special services.
In the event of the non-availability of a school transport service, my Department offers a grant to the parents to help defray the cost of private transport arrangements. The amount payable depends on the distance involved and the level of attendance of the pupil.
In operating the school transport service my Department's agent, Bus Éireann, seeks the co-operation of schools involved in the services with regard to co-ordination of their closure dates.
I understand that the child referred to by the Deputy has been in receipt of a school transport service since September 1994. I am not aware of any formal request for provision of transport or of grant assistance for this pupil in relation to days when the special service does not operate.
However, I have asked my officials to investigate this matter with a view to establishing if arrangements can be made to address the problems to which the Deputy refers.
