Ms Shirley Kearney:

We have engaged with the Cope Foundation in Cork regarding specific concerns it had about transport. We have provided reassurances that all services are operating with additional hygiene and other measures in place. It is not logistically possible to provide separate services to separate schools and that is true throughout the country, not just with regard to the Cope Foundation. There are currently over 2,000 vehicles operating on the special needs scheme and there are simply not enough vehicles, drivers or school escorts to provide separate services to every school. However, all services are operating with additional measures in place, in line with public health advice. Where those measures are in place but parents prefer not to use the transport, we have offered the option of a grant instead. All services are operating in line with public health advice and with those additional measures in place.