Debate contribution: Special Educational Needs: Transport
Debate contribution by Mr Paul Givan on .
- MLA
- Mr Paul Givan
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 14 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Special Educational Needs: Transport
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5685717
Read the official Assembly record
Text
We are reviewing how the current process was managed. My officials are engaged in that process with the EA, but there should not be a repeat of what has happened with transport provision in the next academic year. My focus at the moment is to make sure that every single child has that provision put in place. There is also a challenge for the Education Authority, and it is one that I can understand. On some of those routes, there have not been any tenders or, where there have been some, the amount of cost associated has been very high. Therefore, it is left in a difficult position in which, although it knows that it does not meet value for money, awarding a contract to a parent or a pupil is the only option to get the child to school. There has to be a better way to reach the point at which the decision has to be taken. There are also alternative means, including community transport. How can we utilise that? As a backstop, and although it is not always the most applicable way for some parents, direct payments are made to families for them to be able to secure transport or as a way to meet the costs of transporting children who are entitled to it. That is an area where the provision ought to be looked at, but it is a last resort.
236 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Awaiting analysis
This record has not been analysed yet. It is not counted in any total until it has been assessed.
Disagree with this assessment?
Classifications can be challenged. A person reviews every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.