Transport services for special needs pupils under review

HUGE changes in the way children with special needs are transported to school have been signalled by ministers after costs surged by €6 million in two years.

While agreeing the surge in costs from €12.7m in 2006 to €18.3m in 2006 was “unsustainable”, Fine Gael education spokesman Brian Hayes insisted ministers must act sensitively and cut red tape rather than help.

He was responding to hints from the Minister of State at the Department of Education Seán Haughey that major changes to the way the provision is funded are on the way.