I am pleased the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Deputy O'Dea, is in attendance because I am aware he is well appraised with the issue of escorts for children with special needs. The concern of parents is even greater now than over the past weeks, especially with regard to St. Vincent's school in Lisnagry where children do not have escorts for school buses even though there are funding agencies for the hiring of them. The Minister of State is also aware of an unresolved difficulty with another school. I ask him to assist in resolving the problem of escorts for the pupils of St. Vincent's school to ensure there is adequate safety for children with mild to severe mental handicap.
I have received a considerable volume of correspondence on parliamentary questions raised by Deputy Noonan, the latest of which dates from Tuesday, 27 March, the answer to which gives me some hope. I hope the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dea, will give me assurances that what I am looking for will be done. I ask either for intervention through a facilitator or separation of the school routes in order that the children being discommoded will have bus escorts. The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Woods, states in answer to the parliamentary question that, where necessary, the Department is prepared to assist in resolving such difficulties and including, if necessary, arranging to the transfer of escort funding to an alternative school.
I will not go through the case history, but the funding available to the school in question which is encountering difficulties was returned to the Department which has stated that it will return it. However, 18 months is a long time for children to be without bus escorts. In a sense, the separation of the routes might be the better option because the area in question is quite large. It includes not only County Limerick, but parts of County Clare and north County Tipperary. The matter involves children from the two schools in question and a small number from a school for children with hearing impairment. If at all possible, Bus Éireann should examine the feasibility of separating the routes with a view to ensuring the Lisnagry children who are in need of escorts are facilitated. I would hate to think that come the start of the next school year they would still not have appropriate bus escorts.
At a public meeting which I attended on Monday night the parents again expressed extreme concern. It is difficult for the parents of children at St. Vincent's, Lisnagry, to run with the issue as they have a great deal to do. They are parents of children who do not have appropriate escorts. It is difficult for the chairperson of the group concerned to keep the debate going when she has to look after her child about whom she is concerned and also do her day's work. I, therefore, ask the Minister of State to give me an assurance that come the next school year the children of both schools will have appropriate bus escorts which are so important for their safety. I am sure he will confirm that if anything did happen to a child who does not have the facility of a bus escort, the onus would rest with the board of management of the school. That, in itself, is an appalling vista. While no such incident has happened to date, this situation must be rectified immediately.
There is a need to provide a facilitator to bring the matter to a successful conclusion or, if this is not possible, to separate the bus routes, as the parents have requested, and provide escorts for the children of St. Vincent's, Lisnagry, and those of Catherine McCauley School which cater for children with learning difficulties. I hope the Minister of State has good news for me because I am aware that he has been actively pursuing this matter in the hope of a satisfactory solution.
