John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 537: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a proper transport arrangement with a helper has not been put in place in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if proper transport cannot be provided will her Department or the Health Service Executive approve a grant for these persons to purchase a suitable vehicle to transport their child; if the concerns of the National Educational Welfare Board will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35242/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Grant assistance towards the cost of private school transport arrangements for the pupil referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied was approved by my Department in October 2003, with effect from the 2003-04 school year.

On 19 January 2005, on receipt of a further application in respect of the pupil, my Department approved the provision of a wheelchair-accessible transport service to the school concerned through Bus Éireann, which organises the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department. My Department understands, however, that the parents of the pupil concerned have declined this offer of transport on the grounds that the pick-up time of 8.45 a.m. is too early. It is considered by my Department that all reasonable efforts have been made to facilitate the pupil concerned with a suitable transport service. The offer of a suitably adapted service remains available to the parents should they wish to avail of it.

The primary object of my Department's school transport scheme is to provide a reasonable, accessible transport service in respect of primary, post-primary, and special needs pupils. My Department does not provide grants to parents to purchase suitable vehicles to transport their children.