Dinny McGinley
Question:283 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Education and Science if arrangements will be made to provide transport a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [21533/00]
Written Answers. - School Transport.
My Department provides school transport for children attending special schools and classes on either scheduled or special services. However, in some cases this is not feasible due to particular circumstances such as excessive cost, too long a distance from home to school, or the inability of a child to avail of the service because of the nature of the disability. In such cases, my Department offers a grant to the parents or guardians of the pupils concerned 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.
There are, at present, no school transport services operated by my Department's transport agent, Bus Éireann, which could facilitate the pupil in question with a home pick-up/set-down service as he is wheelchair bound and a wheelchair accessible vehicle would be required.
My Department has offered a school transport grant to the parents of the pupil.