David Stanton
Ceist:307 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the reasons the Southern Health Board has moved to a new taxi company in order to transport persons with special needs to school and to sheltered workshops in the Cork area; the measures in place to ensure that the safety of these persons being transported is guaranteed; the Garda checks on the new drivers that have been carried out to ensure such safety; the training and instruction given to these and other such drivers to ensure that they are adequately prepared in order to be able to assist their passengers in the case of illness or emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12623/03]