Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Jun 2000

Vol. 520 No. 3

Written Answers. - School Transport.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

128 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will consider the appointment of escorts for children with special needs who have to be transported to special schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15665/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

In the current school year my Department issued grants totalling £2.9 million to the management authorities of schools to facilitate the provision of escorts on special transport services for pupils with special needs. A total of 160 schools, involving 590 transport routes, have received funding to employ escorts on the special services.

I understand some of the schools concerned have expressed reservations about the implementation of the scheme. In an effort to address the concerns raised by some schools, arrangements were made by my Department in December 1999 to allow schools to use one-third of the grant allo cated to assist with the initial set-up costs of the scheme.

Officials of my Department have also had discussions with the national association of the boards of management in special education and with representatives of a number of schools in relation to the concerns raised.

I hope that substantial progress can be made on this issue so that escorts can be put in place on the remaining routes as soon as possible, in the interests of the children concerned and their parents.