Vol. 494 No. 3
269 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will extend the pilot scheme successfully running in Dublin where special needs children with disabilities or a mental handicap have full-time escorts on board their transport to and from their schools; and his views on this scheme. [18224/98]
270 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties in relation to school transport being provided to St. Anthony's special school, Castlebar, County Mayo and St. Bríd's special school, Castlebar, County Mayo; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that 90 pupils ranging in age to 19 years are transported by nine buses to these schools and include pupils of mildly, moderate, severe and physical handicap and his Department funds no escort on any of these buses; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that one pupil travelling is blind, two are terminally ill, a number are autistic and that this creates severe difficulties for the driver operators of the transport system resulting in withdrawal of services from the end of September 1998; if he will extend a pilot scheme in respect of these schools introducing a system of permanent escorts and teacher aids in order to regularise the position and allow for an education to be enjoyed by the special pupils so involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18225/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 270 together.
I can assure the Deputies that I am very much aware of the need to extend the existing escort scheme on special school transport services. I am currently giving active consideration to possible measures in this regard.
The present pilot phase of the escort scheme is focused on facilitating the appointment of escorts on services to special schools for children with physical disabilities, and providing assistance towards the cost of escorts for pupils attending the special schools for hearing impaired and visually impaired children who travel long distances by bus or train at weekends. The specific difficulty raised by Deputy Kenny has not previously been brought to my Department's attention. I am arranging to have this matter investigated by my officials as a matter of urgency.
