Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount his Department spends per annum on the provision of taxis to transport children with special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7926/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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A breakdown of expenditure on taxis is not readily available. This type of transport provision will be considered for some children with special needs for whom the general school transport arrangements are unsuitable. Approximately 30% of the expenditure for school transport is being expended on transport, including taxis and grants (mainly escorts) for children with special needs. The provisional outturn of expenditure for school transport in 2008 is €185.725 million. This year's allocation is €196 million.

The number of taxis engaged in the past years has increased from about 250 in 2004 to over 700 in 2008. Some of these taxis would be catering for more than one pupil. In addition grants were paid to over 440 families who use their private vehicles to transport children with special needs to an educational centre. The cost of employing escorts to cater for children with special needs, whose care requirements are such as to necessitate continuous support, has increased significantly in line with the growth in that service. At present, there are about 1,300 escorts employed at an annual cost of about €15 million.