A father whose daughter has special educational needs has expressed deep frustration at the Education Authority's failure to communicate which taxi operator will transport his child to school, with the new academic term just days away.
Columba Mailey, from Greysteel in County Londonderry, said the lack of clarity surrounding transport arrangements for his seven-year-old daughter Maisie is
"hurtful and deeply frustrating". Maisie had been using a taxi service arranged by the Education Authority, but that contract has now been put out to tender as part of a wider procurement exercise.
The situation highlights growing concerns among parents of children with special educational needs about how changes to transport provision are being managed. Mailey told North West Today that
"familiarity with the driver is crucial for Maisie"and stressed that
"24 hours before Maisie starts the new term we have no clarity".
Why does continuity matter for Maisie?
Maisie is autistic and non-verbal, requiring one-to-one supervision both at home and during transport to school. Her father explained that her behavioural needs mean she may attempt to leave her seat during journeys and cannot communicate verbally.
"She needs to build a relationship with any new driver,"Mailey said, noting that the family had initially been told there was no space for Maisie on a standard school bus, which led to the taxi arrangement in the first place.
Over time, Maisie developed familiarity with her existing driver, a relationship that Mailey believes is essential for her wellbeing and safety. The prospect of an unknown operator taking over the route has created significant anxiety for the family.
What is the Education Authority's position?
The Education Authority acknowledged that transport changes can be unsettling for children with special needs but defended its decision to refresh contracts. A spokesperson stated:
"We understand that changes to transport arrangements can be unsettling for children with special educational needs, particularly where they rely on routine and familiarity. However, the Education Authority has a responsibility to ensure value for money across all services, including home-to-school transport, which means we must periodically refresh contracts."
The EA added that transport arrangements are tailored to each child's assessed needs and that adult escorts are provided where required to ensure safe travel. However, the authority did not respond to questions about how many taxi contracts are currently out to tender or how many pupils across Northern Ireland face similar uncertainty.
What triggered the contract changes?
The taxi procurement process stems from cost-cutting measures introduced by the Education Authority. In December 2025, the EA sent letters to taxi operators demanding a 10% reduction in rates, with a deadline of 17 December for acceptance or face contract termination. This pressure resulted in an agreement in February 2026 that delivered total savings of £918,000, according to reporting at the time.
The new arrangement is now being established through a 10-year framework split into 55 separate lots, indicating a large-scale restructuring of how home-to-school transport is provided across the region.
What are parents being asked to do?
Mailey revealed that the Education Authority has asked families whether they can arrange their own transport to school, with the authority offering reimbursement. However, he said this is not feasible for his family due to work commitments.
"We are now being told a new operator is not appointed yet. We are even being asked by EA Transport if we can get her to school ourselves and they could reimburse us. We are unable to do that due to work commitments. It should not be put back on us."
Mailey criticised the communication from the Education Authority, saying that without his own initiative in contacting the EA, he would have received no information at all.
"If I didn't make the calls to the EA I would have heard absolutely nothing. Communication has been shocking and it's hurtful as a father and deeply frustrating,"he said.
"It's a disgrace and we find as parents we are constantly facing brick walls when it comes to issues around special educational needs."
Other parents have approached Mailey reporting they are in identical situations, suggesting the problem extends beyond his family.
Is this a wider problem?
Transport difficulties for children with special educational needs are not new in Northern Ireland. A 2022 report documented that almost 300 pupils were affected by school taxi issues, indicating this is part of a longstanding challenge in how the system manages vulnerable children's access to education. The current procurement exercise, which affects multiple operators and routes across the region, risks repeating similar disruptions on a larger scale.
What happens next?
The Education Authority's taxi procurement notice indicates the new arrangement is being established through a 10-year framework, but a specific award date or handover deadline has not been publicly announced. Parents and operators remain uncertain about when new contracts will be finalised and when transport arrangements will stabilise for affected pupils.
Key Facts:
- Maisie Mailey, seven, is autistic and non-verbal, requiring one-to-one supervision during school transport
- The Education Authority put taxi contracts out to tender following a February 2026 agreement that cut operator rates by 10%, saving £918,000
- The new taxi procurement is structured as a 10-year framework split into 55 lots across Northern Ireland
- Parents report poor communication from the Education Authority about which operators will provide services when the new term begins
- Almost 300 pupils were affected by school taxi issues in 2022, showing this is part of a systemic problem in special needs transport provision
