Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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435. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the specific guidance plan for buses which service schools and persons with special educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23858/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.  In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.

I recently announced a comprehensive plan detailing a package of measures and resources to be provided to facilitate schools in re-opening.  I have also published a detailed roadmap for the full return to school. This roadmap set out how schools would reopen for all students from the end of August.  It was developed in line with public health advice issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), the Roadmap for Society and Business and followed comprehensive and intensive engagement with all relevant stakeholders including Bus Éireann, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the National Transport Authority on the logistical considerations that arise in planning for the operation of school transport services for the reopening of our schools.  

School Transport Scheme services for primary school pupils, including services for children with special educational needs, operated by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department are fully operating as normal in line with public health advice for the 2020/2021 school year with the appropriate hygiene and other measures in place.   

Observing hygiene requirements is a key priority and my Department has issued clear communications to all parents and students using school transport services to set out the requirements for those travelling on services.

Following the most recent advice from NPHET, the Government decided that the post-primary scheme (including post-primary services for pupils with special educational needs) would commence operation when schools re-open with additional measures in place, such as pre-assigned seating and additional hygiene and cleaning measures on services and with the rolling implementation of measures to provide physical distancing, in line with those required on public transport, which is using 50% of passenger capacity, on the post- primary services as required.  

Given the timing of this most recent advice from NPHET so close to the start of the new term, my Department has not withdrawn post-primary transport services for pupils with special educational needs as to do so would cause difficulty for many families in getting their children to school.  My Department has engaged with Bus Éireann to implement measures so that any services that could operate from the start of the school year at 50% capacity have done so and over the coming period all other services for children of post-primary school going age will be re-organised and additional services will be provided as required to allow for physical distancing.  

Every effort continues to provide a safe transport service for all pupils. However, if parents/guardians decide not to avail of transport services they may request a refund on the cost of their ticket for the 2020/2021 school year. Parents have been asked to inform my Department if they wish to avail of this option.