Taxi firms getting £1.60 per mile for WELB work

Addressing a recent evidence session on the Departmental Budget Mr Flanagan claimed: “A huge amount is being spent on taxis for children with special educational needs, particularly in the Western board area.

“Taxi operators are getting up to £1.60 a mile when some of that money could be put into community transport operators that would do it for closer to 40p a mile.”

He told Department of Education (DE) officials it was something that needed to be addressed.

“That is something that you need to look at. I am disappointed that I have not heard anything about collaboration with the Department for Regional Development (DRD) and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) on where future savings can be made,” he commented.

Deputy Secretary at the Department John McGrath said the use of taxis was one element of a plethora of arrangements in place for children with special needs.

“We have different approaches, and you made the point about taxi firms being used to transport special needs kids,” he told the Committee.

“We have a plethora of arrangements, with single taxis dedicated to single children. You might wonder why a taxi is needed for a single child. Does that mean that when they are at home with their family nobody else gets in the car except the child?” he asked.

“As I said, it is an area where you tread with some trepidation because there is sensitivity around it. However, with the budget figures that we have, we will increasingly have to look at striking the right balance between providing what is needed but not overdoing it in some areas. We need to provide what people need but, in some cases, not necessarily any more than they need,” added Mr McGrath.

The top civil servant did hint it would be better - when possible - to have more than a single child using one taxi.

“Phil asked why we do not have community transport instead of taxis. I have wondered myself why a taxi cannot take two or three kids, and that is before we even get to the option of community transport,” said Mr McGrath.

“We need to look at the system, but we need to do so carefully, because it can be a very emotional issue in many cases. There are also different views about what people are entitled to,” he said.

But UUP MLA Jo-Anne Dobson warned that in some areas taxis are so full there is not enough room for all the children requiring them.

Mr McGrath said: “That is my point; there is complete variation. Perhaps we need to look at that again and say that using a single taxi for a single child should be the exception rather than the rule. However, we should maybe not go to the other extreme in other board areas.”

Later during the session DUP Chairperson Mervyn Storey said he had heard “considerable concern” about the provision of school transport in WELB by operators from the Irish Republic.

“Individuals and organisations have repeatedly attempted to find information on what is going on. The board is saying only that it is a procurement issue that is subject to tender, that is must be careful and cannot give out information, and so on,” said the Education chair.

Mr Storey said a recent report by the Stormont Performance Efficiency and Delivery Unit (PEDU) has raised concerns about efficiencies in school transport.

“However, I believe there are current practices that are not in the best interests of the safety of the children being transported or getting value for money. I ask that the Department consider that issue and come back to us with ideas and information about what is happening with school transport, because it is a serious issue,” he commented.

Mr McGrath said that without the details he would be concerned to accept that there was a serious problem. but promised to get back to the Committee.