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School Transport Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 6 September 2019

Friday, 6 September 2019

Questions (253, 254)

Eugene Murphy

Question:

253. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason school transport has been withdrawn from a school (details supplied) with effect from September 2019 in view of the fact it is still available for existing students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34705/19]

View answer

Eugene Murphy

Question:

254. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if school transport will be provided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34706/19]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together.

My Department's practice has been to respond to the needs of long term or repeat child patients in hospitals and HSE CAMHS facilities through the establishment of special schools or through the funding of part-time teaching hours.

The purpose of educational provision in HSE CAMHS Units is a short term intervention designed to provide for some continuity of education during the child/young person’s stay as an in-patient. Not all children/young people attending CAMHS are medically fit to avail of education during all of their stay.

Since 2014, my Department’s policy is to provide teaching staff in CAMHS facilities at a pupil teacher ratio of 6:1 on the basis of the number of inpatient beds in each CAMHS unit. The Special School referred to by the Deputy is one of a number of such special schools.

Current policy does not provide for an additional teaching allocation for CAMHS facilities for students attending such facilities as day or out-patients, as young people attending CAMHs as day patients can apply for Home Tuition support to provide for compensatory education in respect of time missed from school, due to medical reasons or attendance at a medical unit.

As not all inpatient beds in CAMHS Units may be filled at any given time, in such instances, subject to prior approval by my Department, CAMHS Units may utilise spare teaching capacity from their allocated 6:1 ratio to offer guidance or support for pupils attending CAMHS facilities as day patients, and to assist in maintaining some continuity of education from their base school or liaison with their base school on days that they attend the CAMHS Unit.

Students in the school referred to by the Deputy are attending the HSE CAMHS facility, in the first instance, as in-patients, day patients or out-patients for mental health issues rather than special educational needs.

While the special school in question was originally designated as a special school for Severe Emotional Behaviour Disorder, since the school’s re-location with the HSE’s CAMHS unit, the teaching staff allocation has been provided on the basis of the policy outlined above for CAMHS facilities.

The CAMHS team may refer patients to the school for short term education intervention, designed to provide for some continuity of education, while a patient of the CAMHS Unit. All students remain enrolled in their base schools while attending the CAMHS unit. Special schools attached to CAMHS Units do not enrol students on a full time basis, as their main education placement. Therefore, their enrolment remains transient.

The purpose of the Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability.  Children are eligible when they are attending the nearest recognised mainstream school, special class in mainstream or special school that is or can be resourced to meet their special educational needs.  Eligibility is determined in consultation with the NCSE through its network of SENOs.

As students in a special school attached to a CAMHS facility, including the Special School referred to by the Deputy, are, in the first instance, attending CAMHS as in-patients, day patients or out-patients for mental health issues rather than special educational needs, transport to the HSE CAMHS unit does not come within the remit of my Department’s Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs.

Special School Transport was provided in error to a number of students who attended this school while day patients of the CAMHS unit. This arrangement was allowed to continue for these students until they completed their time in CAMHS. No new applications will be considered.

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