Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1027. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of his engagement with the Minister for Transport concerning the provision of public transport services for disabled persons attending vocational training services and post-secondary school-based courses. [13230/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I met with the Minister for Transport in September 2022 to discuss transport options for students across the third level sector, including issues relating to access to public transport. I welcome the provision in Budget 2023 to continue the Young Adult Card and its expansion to 16, 17 and 18 year olds in third level education, so that they can also avail of half-price public transport fares.

My Department provides a number of supports for people with a disability, which may include transport supports. Almost 11,400 learners who took part in Further Education and Training (FET) courses in 2020 declared themselves as having a disability. Some of these learners took part in programmes specifically designed for people with a disability such as the Specialist Training Provision (STP) programme, while others participated across the broader FET provision programmes such as Post Leaving Certificate courses, Back to Education Initiative and the Adult Literacy Service.

Within the FET sector, a broad range of supports are provided through the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) to support the participation of all learners, including those with a disability. These supports may include transport support. For example, some providers of SPT will have their own transport, while others link into other local transport providers.

The Strategic Performance Agreements in place between SOLAS and the ETBs for 2022 to 2024, identify 12 National Targets, one if which is to widen participation of learners from priority cohorts, including people with a disability, in FET. ETBs will work in partnership with local community education providers and interest groups to ensure the challenges faced by priority cohorts are addressed.

Nevertheless, the provision of public transport services falls within the remit of the Department of Transport and the Deputy may wish to engage further with the Minister for Transport regarding her query.