Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I would like to raise the issue of school transport for students with a disability. I received word through a parliamentary question yesterday evening that a child with a disability who requires considerable attention was refused free school transport because he is not attending the nearest school deemed by the Department to be resourced to meet his educational needs. He is therefore not eligible for free school transport. I was further informed the family can now apply for school transport on a concessionary basis but this is subject to terms and conditions, including the availability of spare seats or the payment of an annual charge. This child is due to start school in September. While the school is not the nearest school, it has been determined and deemed to be the best school to suit his needs by, most importantly, his parents and also the therapists in the local disability services.

I raised the query with the Department immediately on being contacted by the family. I am disappointed with the response.