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 required considerable attention had been refused free school transport because he was 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 am further informed that 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.

Is the Senator seeking a debate on the issue of school transport?

I understand the topic is more suited to a Commencement debate but as the update on the matter only came through yesterday evening, the deadline had passed. I have spoken to Bus Éireann and there does not appear to be an issue on its end about transporting the child. It is now a matter for the Department to apply common sense to the issue. I have had similar issues.

We cannot raise specific issues on the Order of Business. The Senator will have to find another way of raising it.

As I said, I have raised similar issues for others. As we are coming to the end of the school year, parents need to know at this stage of the year how their children will get to school in September, particularly children with special needs. They need to know what is available. Any child attending a normal primary or secondary school will know.

Not if the Labour Party is dealing with it.

We need to set this system in place for children. It is a question of common sense and the Department having a look at it.

The Senator should talk to her own Minister.

The Department needs to look at it.

I am calling for a system to be put in place whereby people would know at the end of June, when they were going on holidays, exactly how their children would get to school in September.