Micheál Martin
Ceist:96 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education if she intends to provide escorts on buses carrying children with special needs to schools throughout the country. [18790/95]
Written Answers. - School Bus Escorts.
Batt O'Keeffe
Ceist:102 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education when she will appoint escorts for buses ferrying children to and from special schools. [18525/95]
Micheál Martin
Ceist:113 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an escort on a school bus (details supplied) for children with special needs travelling from Crosshaven, County Cork with several collection points to St. Paul's Montenotte and Fota as requested by the Cork branch of the Down's Syndrome Association of Ireland. [18744/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 96, 102 and 113 together.
Earlier this year, I announced the allocation of £150,000 for a pilot scheme of grant-aid towards the provision of escorts on certain school transport services. The pilot scheme is being targeted on special schools and schools with special classes for children with disabilities. All applications for support under this scheme were carefully considered by my Department having regard to priority of need and the available resources. I am pleased to inform the House that funding for the appointment of 35 escorts on special transport services has now been allocated to the selected schools. The bulk of the funding has been targeted on special schools for children with physical handicaps. However, I have also allocated a sum of £25,000 towards the cost of escort services for pupils attending the special schools for hearing impaired and visually impaired children who travel long distances by bus and train at weekends.
It will be a matter for the individual boards of management of the selected schools to decide on the individual routes selected for an escort service. Unfortunately, routes serving St. Paul's Special School, Montenotte and Fota, were unsuccessful in their application for support on this occasion.
I will be keeping the operation of the pilot scheme under review and the needs of the schools mentioned by the Deputy will be considered in the event of any further expansion of the scheme being undertaken.