An application for school transport for the pupil in question was received in my Department on 29 September 2001. As there was no suitable school transport service available, my Department approved a transport grant for the family on 5 November 2001. The family appealed the level of grant offered on the basis that it fell short of the actual costs incurred by them in transporting their child to school.
My Department subsequently requested Bus Éireann, which operates the special school transport service on behalf of my Department, to investigate and report on alternative transport arrangements for the child. The Bus Éireann report, which has now been received by my Department, contains proposals to address the transport needs of the child in question and two other children in the area. My officials will be in contact with the families concerned shortly to discuss these proposals.