asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that physically handicapped pupils are collected at 07.20 a.m. to attend post primary school; and if he will instruct his officials to have transport arrangements adjusted so that no physically handicapped pupil will have to spend more than one hour en route to school.
Written Answers. - Transport of Physically Handicapped Pupils.
641.
My Department has an obligation to operate the school transport scheme in such a way as to make the most economic use of the available vehicle resources. To this end it is necessary to operate the double-tripping of vehicles in many cases.
It is possible, therefore, that some pupils may have early pick-up times in the mornings. It is my Department's general policy that, if at all possible, a pupil should not spend more than one hour travelling to school. Where it is operationally possible, the special needs of seriously handicapped pupils are taken into account when routes are planned.
If the Deputy will furnish particulars of the cases he has in mind I will have them investigated.