Special needs bus debacle sorted

The State Education Minister says the special needs bus debacle has now been fixed.

THE State Government says there should be no repeat today of the travel debacle, which last Monday saw students with disabilities and their families left waiting for buses that never came.  

NSW Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli said the Department of Education has worked over the weekend to put in place travel arrangements for students who were affected by last week's disruptions to the Assisted School Travel
Program (ASTP).

Mr Piccoli said the disruption to students with disability and their families across NSW including the Mid North Coast last Monday was unacceptable.

It is understood that from the 740 students affected last week, all but 64 students have permanent travel arrangements in place.  

"I am advised by the department that it is confident arrangements are now in place to transport the vast majority of students whose travel was disrupted last week," Mr Piccoli said.

Currently there are about 9000 students eligible for assistance under the ASTP.

"I am also advised that the department has contacted affected parents and carers regarding the travel arrangements for their children.

"At my direction, the department has set up an emergency hotline to help ensure that students get to school as quickly as possible.

"If a travel provider does not arrive to collect a student from home, parents should call the Emergency Parent Hotline on 1300 761 882 from tomorrow between 7am and 6pm.

"The department will then take immediate action to arrange emergency travel where possible," he said.

The department has received 217 new applications for access to the ASTP during the past week.