Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the time to outline the details of this case. I regret I have to raise such an issue on the Adjournment owing to the fact that one section of the Minister's Department or perhaps one or two officials have been unco-operative with me and the family concerned.

This matter concerns a young girl of seven years, Ciara Hosey from Grangecon, County Wicklow. She suffers from a physical disability and attends a special needs school, St. Anne's, in the Curragh. The school has been excellent in its care of the child, as have the bus drivers dealing with her. Ciara who is due to make her First Holy Communion tomorrow week on 22 May suffers from a severe disability. She travelled to St. Anne's on a school bus between 2006 and 2008 with an escort and special ancillary equipment and no difficulties arose. However, in December 2008 she was transferred from one bus operator to another. At no time did the family receive a communication from the school transport section of the Department of Education and Science on why this was the case. Last Sunday night they received a telephone call from a person from one of the bus companies to outline that the company could not carry Ciara to school any longer and that the service was being withdrawn while the company assessed the health and safety aspects of the case, including any medical requirements. This followed a telephone call from Ciara's mother who simply sought to have better facilities put in place for her daughter, not for a withdrawal of facilities. She was informed on Sunday night that there would be no transport to school for Ciara.

This is unacceptable. It is unacceptable not to provide school transport. Equally, it is unacceptable because there was no communication with the family. Over a couple of days they tried to obtain information but were unsuccessful. I contacted the Department of Education and Science and it was most co-operative. However, when I got through to the school transport section, I met a stone wall which in my experience is not representative of the general courtesy extended to members of the public or public representatives. I have been dealing with the section dealing with school transport in County Wicklow since I was first elected and it has been excellent; therefore, I was surprised in this case that I could not get any information. I was told to contact the family as it was a matter for them. When I contacted them, to my surprise I discovered they had not been given any information. I can understand, therefore, the frustration and annoyance of a family whose child is being left at home. They have not been able to get any information from the Department.

I ask the Minister of State to ensure this child will have transport to school. She is making her First Holy Communion tomorrow week. He must examine the policy in his Department and ensure the officials dealing with the public who are paid by the taxpayer afford the normal courtesy to people, particularly those who face very difficult personal circumstance. I was in contact with the family shortly before I came into the House and my understanding is that they may have been contacted by the school in the last hour or two, stating the girl will be able to attend school next week. I do not know if this information is included in the Minister of State's reply. I may be incorrect in my information but ask the Minister of State to use his good offices to resolve the matter and ensure staff in his Department who are public servants empathise, understand the plight of and the difficulties families face and to realise that Oireachtas Members are messengers of the people and elected to represent them and that they should also be afforded access to information.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to clarify the general position on school transport for children with special educational needs.

The purpose of the school transport scheme for children with special needs is to provide a reasonable level of transport service for children with a diagnosed disability and-or educational need who, because of the nature of their disability, may not be in a position to avail of a school bus service which would be timetabled to pick up other children along the route of service. Children are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest recognised mainstream school, special class or special school or a unit that is, or can be, resourced to meet the child's special educational needs under Department of Education and Science criteria.

My Department also allocates funding to schools for the employment of escorts to accompany children with special educational needs whose care requirements necessitate continuous support on school transport services. In general, transport arrangements are made by Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department. I must emphasise that the safety and welfare of pupils availing of school transport services are of paramount importance to my Department and to Bus Éireann.

In the case referred to by the Deputy, the pupil in question has special educational needs and has been facilitated with a school transport service since 2006. Recently, Bus Éireann advised that the existing level of service provided under the school transport scheme might not be sufficient or suitable to meet the child's specific needs. In that regard, the child's mother was informed by my Department of Bus Éireann's concerns and pending a review of health and safety issues, it would not be appropriate to continue to carry the child with effect from Monday 11 May.

My Department is liaising with Bus Éireann and the school authorities regarding the measures to be put in place to ensure that the child's welfare is taken care of, while travelling on the bus. My Department has been in continuous contact with the child's mother, and kept her informed of developments. In the course of conversations between the child's mother and my Department the child's mother raised a number of additional issues regarding the suitability of the service for her child. These have been forwarded to Bus Éireann and to the school authorities for their consideration. The service for the child cannot be restored until all the issues raised have been fully examined.

I appreciate why the Deputy put down this Adjournment debate matter and I will endeavour to resolve this problem as soon as possible.