Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have two brief questions. First, we need to see movement on the concessionary pupils next week. We will all support the Minister in trying to secure the funding to help families who were traditionally able to avail of services.

The reason I want to talk to the Minister this morning is in relation to autistic children. As she knows, some children, particularly in the Athlone and Roscommon areas, did not have a school place until July of this year. Eventually they got offered a school place, but now they have no school transport. I know of a family who are travelling 120 km a day to bring their son outside of the county to and from an autism unit. They have another child with a disability who is travelling 20 km in the opposite direction. They are in crisis at the moment. A number of autistic children still have not got a school transport service. They have been issued with a bus ticket, but they have no bus service. These children have been neglected by the Department. They were denied school places until the summer.

They are being left high and dry on the side of the road without a transport service in place. When will they get the transport service that they have a right and entitlement to?