Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 4

Written Answers. - School Transport.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

375 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delay in arranging school transport for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if he will give an undertaking that the arrangements will be finalised by the end of February 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4128/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

The special class attended by the pupil in question was established in September 1998. I understand that the delay in putting the necessary transport service in place arose because of unexpected fluctuations in the number of children availing of the special class. A special transport service was sanctioned by my Department in December 1998 on the basis of the number of children then proposed for enrolment in the class. However, a number of the children in question subsequently withdrew from the class and the transport arrangement intended was no longer workable.

Now that the position regarding enrolments in the class has settled, my Department's agent, Bus Éireann, is actively pursuing the introduction of a new transport arrangement for the pupils con cerned, including the child to which the Deputy refers. It is expected that this service will be in place in a matter of weeks. In the meantime, I have asked my officials to make contact with the family of the pupil in question so that arrangements can be made for the payment of a transport grant for the period during which transport was not available to the child.