Vol. 495 No. 1
411 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will outline, further to the adjournment debate of 1 October 1998 in relation to escorts for special needs children, the number of children involved and the schools concerned; if he will give a breakdown of the £2 million mentioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19420/98]
It is estimated that the special school transport scheme caters for a total of 9,000 pupils with special needs and involves approximately 450 vehicles. There are 108 special schools and 403 classes for children with special needs currently in place. The current pilot escort scheme caters for five special schools for children with physical disabilities. Grants are also provided towards the cost of escort provision for week-end transport for two schools for children with visual impairment and three schools for children with hearing impairment. The scheme provides funding for escorts on 38 transport routes. My Department does not have the precise number of special needs children travelling on these routes, however it is estimated that there are approximately 350 children involved. An annual grant of £3,200 issues to schools in the pilot escort scheme towards the cost of employing a transport escort.
