I wish to advise the Deputy that the exceptional school transport arrangements, which heretofore have been made available to Traveller children only, have been reviewed in line with the Report and Recommendations contained in the Traveller Education Strategy published in 2006. This Strategy was finalised following a comprehensive consultative process and was overseen by a group which included representation from three national Traveller organisations. The strategy recommended that both primary and post primary Traveller children should use the mainstream school transport scheme in operation at present. Only in exceptional circumstances, based on special needs, should special transport be provided as a positive action measure.
I would emphasise that, in order to provide as much lead in and communication time as possible, my officials set out the Department's intentions on this recommendation and the proposed phasing in of this recommendation at the Traveller Education Strategy Advisory and Consultative Forum in November 2009 and January 2010. Letters were subsequently issued to all schools with exceptional transport arrangements in February 2010 and the Society of St Vincent De Paul which was involved in the organisation of some services. In addition, the Visiting Teachers for Travellers were provided with detailed briefing on the proposed changes to support their communication work with schools and parents.
These changes will mean:
From the commencement of the 2010/2011 school year, the general terms of the school transport scheme are being implemented for Traveller pupils newly entering primary and post primary level, including siblings of the current group;
The current exceptional arrangements for a number of children already attending primary and post primary schools who do not meet the distance criteria will cease at the beginning of the 2010/2011 school year;
All children who meet the distance criteria will continue to be transported to their school of attendance (and this may not be their nearest school) until they complete their schooling at that school;
Transport Services will be retained where there are four eligible children, which is three less than is generally applied;
In cases where the minimum number of four is not met and these children cannot be facilitated on other services, these children will be eligible for a school transport grant, given that they meet the distance criteria.
Visiting Teachers for Travellers (VTTs) may also identify on an exceptional basis the minimal number of cases where unique school transport arrangements may be required and an application form has been devised for this purpose.
Bus Éireann, which operates the general school transport scheme on behalf of the Department, will in future manage all school transport arrangements for Traveller children. Bus Éireann is currently assessing the eligibility of the Traveller children identified in terms of the distance criteria and this process will determine the number of children involved. The Visiting Teachers for Travellers have been requested to compile evidence on any adverse effects on school attendance in the normal course of their work and will report to the Department's Traveller Implementation Group.
